Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidates Take a Stand on Sending National Guard to Memphis
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Haggerty and Governor Bill Lee attending a signing ceremony in the Oval Office with President Trump (Photo by Governor Bill Lee)
Both leading Republican candidates in the 2026 governor’s race are applauding President Trump’s decision to send the National Guard into Memphis.
Trump signed the presidential memoranda on Monday to create a Memphis Safe Taskforce to combat what the administration says is “highest rate of violent crime per capita.” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee stood beside Trump as he signed the memoranda and personally requested the president’s intervention.
“Memphis is a remarkable community with great cultural significance that includes top global business and strong faith leaders, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to move this city forward,” said Lee in a statement. “We’ve made significant investments to address crime throughout my seven years in office, and thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Memphis Safe Task Force will ensure we have every resource at our disposal to create significant change.”
Republicans Support Move
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn joined Governor Lee in the Oval Office during Monday’s signing, and expressed her support for the move on X.
“@realDonaldTrump is the law and order President. He’s shown it in our nation’s capital, and now will do the same in Memphis. As Governor, I’ll continue to work with President Trump and @SenBrentTaylor to #MakeMemphisMatter,” wrote Blackburn.
The Senator’s best funded opponent in next year’s governor’s race also provided a statement of support for Trump’s move. Congressman John Rose posted multiple times on social media praising the move.
“President Trump is doing the right thing sending the National Guard to Memphis. The crime problem in such a great city has to be fixed,” wrote Rose on X.
National Spotlight for Democratic Candidate
The president’s decision also appears to have given one Democratic candidate in next year’s governor’s race a larger spotlight.
CNN quoted Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green in its story on Trump’s action. The network was additionally scheduled to have her appear on The Lead with Jack Tapper Monday evening to discuss the issue, but that appearance was rescheduled according to a tweet by Green’s campaign.
“As tensions escalate further in Memphis with Trump and Marsha Blackburn's plans to send in the National Guard, Jerri is taking emergency meetings to explore legal options to stop this occupation. Nothing is more important than our democracy—and Jerri is on the frontlines to keep Memphis from being ground zero for authoritarianism. This is the kind of leadership we need in Tennessee. You deserve a governor who will put community before headlines,” wrote Green’s campaign on X.
Green is the only announced Democratic candidate in next year’s governor’s race who’s held an elected office. She’s been outspoken against sending the National Guard to Memphis, arguing her hometown needs “better opportunities, not occupation.”
“Freedom is fragile when military force enters our neighborhoods,” wrote Green on X. “Troops with guns marching through Memphis should alarm every one of us. When soldiers are sent into our neighborhoods, our city becomes less free. Our state becomes less free. Our country becomes less free. Our Founding Fathers fought a revolution against exactly that kind of power. A free people should never live under the shadow of soldiers.”
