ST. LOUIS – U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the head of Union Pacific asked him to send the National Guard to St. Louis, but it’s unclear whether troops could be deployed.
Speaking on FOX News’ FOX & Friends, Trump offered brief remarks on St. Louis while discussing his plans to send the National Guard to Memphis to address crime.
“I had the man, the head of a big, big railroad. They’re doing a big merger and he wanted to come see me,” said Trump, referring to his meeting with the head of Union Pacific without naming CEO Jim Vena directly.
“He was in my office, and he started off 45 years ago with the railroad,” said Trump. “And I said, ‘What do you think? Where should we go next?’ … He said, ‘Sir, Memphis would be good.'”
Trump then confirmed he would send the National Guard to Memphis. And moments later, St. Louis ended up in the conversation.
“I said to him, ‘Where else should we go? Where would you say?’ He said, ‘Sir, please. Do me a favor. St. Louis has been so badly hit. It’s very hard, very, very hard.’ He said, ‘Don’t lose Chicago.'”
Trump did not elaborate further on St. Louis, instead shifting to criticism of crime in Chicago and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
In recent weeks, Trump has called for National Guard deployments in Democratic-led cities, like Chicago and Memphis, which he says is part of a push to combat crime and illegal immigration.
Following Trump’s remarks Friday, FOX 2 reached out to the St. Louis Mayor’s Office, who shared the following response from Mayor Cara Spencer:
“I am not aware of any planning in this regard [for the National Guard], either at the state or federal level, and have confirmed this in conversation with the Governor’s Office today. I am confident, given my constructive working relationship with the governor, that if there were any planning, we would be made aware in advance. My office and the Governor’s Office have been and continue to remain in contact on the issue.
Along with helping St. Louisans recover from the devastating May 16 tornado, making St. Louis safer is my top priority. But earlier this year, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department came under the control of our Republican governor, meaning the department no longer answers to me or the City.
However, St. Louis absolutely needs President Trump’s help to lead in a great American comeback story for our City and Missouri by bringing in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as soon as possible to take on the massive task of removing tornado debris. Tens of thousands of St. Louisans were badly hit by the mile-wide tornado, and debris removal is essential to meeting our community’s housing and safety needs.
Our request for that help is sitting on FEMA’s desk, so St. Louis needs the President to step in, make it happen and help St. Louis in its comeback.
Crime unquestionably remains too high in St. Louis, but we have seen massive improvements in the past five years, and that positive trend is continuing, including now that our police department answers to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe. Our police department continues to do excellent work, and we have full confidence that they are able to continue that progress.”
Trump’s new remarks also come as Gov. Kehoe received a request earlier this year to activate the state’s National Guard members to support ICE operations with administrative and logistical tasks.
Also earlier this year, the National Guard arrived to St. Louis to assist with May 16 tornado cleanup efforts. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe also activated the National Guard in June for “No Kings” protests statewide, although troops were not ultimately deployed at protests.
FOX 2 has also reached out to spokespeople for Union Pacific and the Missouri Governor’s Office over Trump’s remarks, but our requests for comment have not been returned as of this story’s initial publication.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
