NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis’ mayor said Saturday that President Donald Trump’s TV announcement the day before was the first hard confirmation he received that the National Guard would be sent to the city an anti-crime mission.
Speaking on CNN, Mayor Paul Young said he learned the idea was under consideration when Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s office informed him earlier in the week. The Democratic mayor said conversations continued throughout the week, and he had been talking about the possibility of getting more law enforcement presence through the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Then, on Friday morning, Trump made his announcement on Fox News. He said Memphis is “deeply troubled” and “we’re going to fix that just