MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Following a Wednesday address by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to federal agents and law enforcement, the Memphis Safe Task Force has activated.
In an early 72 hours, 93 arrests have been made and 28 illegal weapons have been seized. Among those arrested were an unnamed Tren de Aragua gang member, a felon in possession of a firearm, a rapist and an assault on a federal officer, according to Bondi.
“Memphis is an iconic city… and we are going to make Memphis safe again,” said Bondi in the Wednesday address to the Memphis Safe Task Force, a coalition of federal agencies that will work in conjunction with law enforcement as Trump’s crime crackdown continues.
Deputy Chief of Staff Miller led a spirited and raucous attack on crime. “I pledge to you that we will liberate this city from the criminal element that has plagued it for generations… the idea that there is a square inch of block in this city where a citizen doesn’t feel safe is unacceptable. This is Memphis. This is the United States of America… [criminals] think that they’re ruthless, they have no idea how ruthless we are… We are going to win, they are going to lose.”
“At the Department of War, we are proud to be part of that effort to ensure we’re defending the homeland and defending those who defend the homeland,” echoed Hegseth. He explicitly released the task force. “We’re not here to second guess you… we’re here to have your back – to unleash you to do your jobs so you come home safely.”
This address garnered mixed feelings from officials. Republican Gov. Bill Lee has supported the implementation of this project, and was in attendance at the address and toured the staging area. Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen wrote a letter to Hegseth and Bondi with concerns over the lack of collaboration and alarming rhetoric used in the Wednesday speeches. Cohen also referenced Trump’s assertion this Tuesday that “dangerous cities” should be used as “training grounds” for the U.S. military.
“I was disappointed to learn from the media that you were in Memphis discussing the Memphis Safety Task Force, which involves sending federal law enforcement resources and National Guard troops to my district. I sincerely hope this will be a collaborative process that empowers Memphians, not some punitive effort or federal occupation of this great American city.”
“Memphians are not enemies; they are Americans. They are entitled to constitutional rights, not their government working to ‘intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill’ them. We are not a training ground or target practice,” wrote Cohen.
“I implore you to listen and respond to Memphians, coordinate with the City and County, communicate with my office, and invest in what has been working. We need long-term solutions, not political photo ops.”
