President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize Memphis, Tenn., is showing early signs of success, with crime rates falling as thousands of federal agents carry out arrests.
Following his earlier efforts to restore order in Washington, D.C., Trump announced in early September that the National Guard would be deployed to Memphis. He also established a joint task force bringing together the FBI, ATF, and Department of Justice to coordinate a citywide crime crackdown that began on Sept. 29.
As of Thursday, authorities have made 2,213 arrests as part of Trump’s federal crime crackdown in Memphis, according to a daily police report . The operation has so far resulted in the capture of 139 known gang members, the seizure of 379 firearms, and the recovery of 97 missing children.
“The numbers clearly show that Memphis is safer thanks to President Trump’s federal surge,” Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Caller in a statement.
“Our agents from the FBI, DEA, US Marshals, and ATF have done incredible work alongside HSI and local police to combat violent crime and restore safety to an iconic American city. Tolerating crime is a choice, and this Department of Justice chooses law and order,” she added.
On Thursday, 1,639 federal agents representing 31 agencies were deployed across Memphis as part of the ongoing federal crime crackdown, according to a daily police report obtained by The Daily Caller. Additional personnel are expected to join the effort on Friday.
The operation included the arrest of a suspect wanted for attempted first-degree murder, the report shows. A day earlier, another individual was taken into custody on a warrant for second-degree murder. Other notable arrests from Wednesday’s sweep included a suspect charged with rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, and incest.
The Memphis Police Department continues to publish crime data on the city’s website, covering incidents from Oct. 1 — the day after the operation began — through the present. A 2024 column lists comparable data from the same period last year, according to an administration official who spoke with the outlet.
Since the start of Trump’s federal crackdown, murders in Memphis have declined by 52.38% compared to the same period last year, according to city data. The report also shows significant drops across multiple categories: sexual assaults are down 55.56%, robberies 65.82%, burglaries 33.98%, and aggravated assaults 47.30%.
Motor vehicle thefts have fallen even more sharply — down 79.79% year over year. Overall, crime across those major categories has decreased by 46.65%.
On Friday, an additional 158 members of the National Guard were expected to deploy to assist in the ongoing cleanup operation, the outlet reported, citing an official document.
National Guard troops, as members of the US military, are not authorized to conduct law enforcement actions and make arrests. But they do provide material support for federal agents and act as force multipliers to keep federal facilities secure.
One month after President Trump launched his crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Caller that the president is open to partnering with Republican governors to combat rising crime in Democrat-led cities.
“Democrats have tried to argue that red states have higher crime rates while overlooking problems of high crime in blue cities. I’m wondering if the president would consider working with red state governors to fix high crime in blue cities, like in Memphis, Tennessee,” asked Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese during a recent press conference.
“The President wants to work with anyone across this country who wants to end these horrible policies and to bring law and order to our streets, and I think that is proven by his tremendous cooperation with the mayor of Washington, D.C., and our nation’s capital, and just look at the results of that,” the press secretary responded.
In a moment that has left the internet buzzing, Donald Trump recently found himself at the center of yet another controversy, this time involving his cognitive abilities. During a press conference, Trump’s comments about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) sparked laughter among onlookers and prompted a wave of social media reactions. While the topic of mental acuity is serious, Trump’s blunders often provide a mix of humor and cringe-worthy moments that the world can’t help but laugh at.
As the press corps gathered, Trump took the opportunity to criticize AOC, questioning her intelligence while inadvertently showcasing his own. In a rambling monologue, he suggested that AOC and fellow Democrat Jasmine Crockett should take an IQ test, comparing their supposed lack of intelligence to his own experiences with cognitive tests during a recent medical evaluation. “You give her an IQ test,” Trump declared, “have her pass like the exams that I decided to take when I was at Walter Reed.”
His comments spiraled into confusion as he described the cognitive tests he had taken, which are designed to assess cognitive decline rather than measure IQ. “I got an MRI. It was perfect,” he boasted, claiming the results were some of the best his doctors had ever seen. However, the irony of his statement did not go unnoticed, as many began to question whether he truly understood the nature of the tests he was referencing.
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In the aftermath of Trump’s press conference, social media erupted with laughter and criticism. Judy A. Jones pointed out the fundamental misunderstanding in Trump’s comments: “The point of the cognitive test is to see how the brain is working. It is not an IQ or aptitude test.” Many users chimed in, mocking Trump’s challenge to AOC. One user quipped, “I’m thinking the divine Miss AOC can remember person, woman, man, camera, TV without issue.”
Matthew Chapman of Raw Story captured the sentiment perfectly in his article titled, “His brain is rice pudding. Trump skewered for demanding AOC take dementia tests like him.” Chapman highlighted the absurdity of Trump’s challenge, noting that he seemed unaware that he was essentially describing a screening test for dementia rather than a measure of intelligence. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), which Trump was likely referencing, is used primarily for elderly patients and those recovering from strokes to check for signs of cognitive decline.
Trump’s insistence on comparing himself to AOC through cognitive testing reveals a deeper misunderstanding of what these assessments entail. Cognitive tests are designed to identify impairments and assess mental functioning, not to serve as a measure of intelligence or capability. This distinction is crucial, yet it appears to have eluded the former president.
As the laughter continued to echo across social media platforms, another user humorously remarked, “At his second annual physical of the year, Trump’s doctors gave him a dementia screening test again, then ordered an MRI. His brain is rice pudding.” Such comments encapsulate the mix of humor and concern surrounding Trump’s mental fitness, raising questions about how seriously we should take his public statements.
While the internet revels in the humor of Trump’s blunder, AOC herself has consistently addressed the serious implications of Trump’s presidency. In a speech following his election, she warned of the potential consequences of his leadership, stating, “We are about to enter a political period that will have consequences for the rest of our lives.” Her foresight into the dangers of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms rings more relevant than ever.
AOC articulated a vision of a future where mass movements would be necessary to protect one another against fascism and authoritarianism. “This is the world that we very realistically may be entering,” she cautioned, referencing Trump’s dangerous rhetoric about using the military against his political opponents. Her words serve as a stark reminder that while laughter may be the immediate reaction to Trump’s antics, the underlying issues are profoundly serious.
Trump’s latest gaffe highlights a broader irony in American political discourse. As he attempts to undermine the intelligence of his opponents, he inadvertently exposes his own vulnerabilities. The juxtaposition between his bravado and the reality of cognitive testing serves as a metaphor for his presidency—filled with bluster but often lacking substance.
Moreover, the public’s reaction to Trump’s comments underscores a growing awareness of the importance of mental acuity in leadership. As citizens navigate a complex political landscape, the ability to discern facts from fiction, and clarity from confusion, becomes increasingly vital.
As we laugh at Trump’s latest blunder, it’s essential to reflect on the implications of such moments. They serve not only as entertainment but as a reminder of the importance of informed leadership and the need for accountability. AOC’s warnings about the potential for authoritarianism resonate deeply, urging us to remain vigilant in the face of political absurdity.
In an era where humor often intertwines with serious political discourse, we must remember that laughter can be both a coping mechanism and a call to action. As we navigate the complexities of modern politics, let us not lose sight of the values that underpin our democracy. The world may be laughing at Trump today, but the stakes are far too high for us to ignore the lessons embedded in these moments of levity.