White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Memphis law enforcement officials Wednesday that the era of gangbangers controlling parts of the city is ending. “The idea that there is a square inch of block in this city where a citizen doesn’t feel safe is unacceptable,” Miller said. “This is Memphis. This is the United States of America, and all that bullshit is done! It’s over, it’s finished!”
Miller joined Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in addressing members of the Memphis Safe Task Force at the Shelby County Operations Center. The task force was established last month by an executive order from President Donald Trump to restore law and order in the crime-ravaged city.
According to FBI data, Memphis recorded the highest rate of violent crime per capita in 2024, including elevated levels of murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Trump directed 13 state and federal law enforcement agencies to deploy to Memphis to combat the crisis.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the task force had made 53 arrests and seized 20 illegal firearms. Bondi emphasized support for local officers, stating, “We’re here to back you up, to be your partner. Be safe. Thank you for what you do.” She vowed to protect law enforcement, warning that anyone threatening an officer would face arrest.
Hegseth praised the work of Memphis police, noting Trump’s focus on the city’s alarming crime data and his commitment to residents’ livelihoods. “We’re not here to second guess you,” he said. “We’re here to have your back, to unleash you to do your job so you come home safely.”
Miller pledged unprecedented federal support, stating, “This isn’t just a task force. This is an all-of-government unlimited support operation.” He promised federal officers would work alongside local police nightly, asserting, “These are people who have taken down drug cartels and the worst criminal offenders in the U.S.”
“We will liberate this city from the criminal element that has plagued it for generations,” Miller declared. “There is no street, neighborhood, or physical space that belongs to anyone other than law-abiding citizens.” He warned Memphis criminals, “They have no idea how ruthless we are. We have the entire weight of the U.S. government behind us. What do they have? Nothing.”
Miller concluded by vowing to transform Memphis into a safer, more prosperous city: “Businesses and investments will pour in, and Memphis will be richer than ever before.”