President Trump revealed Union Pacific Railroad CEO Jim Vena suggested deploying the National Guard to St. Louis. He revealed the news during a Fox News interview and referred to safety and crime as the primary drivers for the recommendation.

Trump proposes sending National Guard to St. Louis
Provided/Union Pacific

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Trump discusses National Guard and railroads

During the interview, Trump revealed that he initially targeted Memphis but sought Vena’s other suggestions. The chief executive directed him to St. Louis while noting the city was severely impacted and desperately needed assistance from the federal government.

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The details of the conversation were not verified by a Union Pacific spokesman. Instead, the company emphasized the current cooperation across communities for the safety of freight and workers and also the conversation by Trump about the U.S. railroads’ future.

Domestic and political reactions to Trump’s remarks

The governor’s office in Missouri did not deny having direct dialogue with the president. But at the local level, officials expressed doubts. St. Louis’s Mayor Cara Spencer was optimistic the city would be given prior warning in the event of any deployment plan.

Board of Aldermen President Megan Green also commented that disaster recovery should be funded by the federal government and not policing. In the same breath, she insisted that the city continues recovering from the May tornado and desperately needs rebuilding funding.

Crime statistics and broader context

In spite of declarations by Trump himself, crime in St. Louis was down according to official police statistics. Homicides decreased by over 40% from 2020 through 2024, and total serious crime decreased by 17% relative to the prior year.

But the general public is not quite convinced. According to surveys, many Americans believe violence increased in the nation even though the long-term trend shows a decline. Officials argue the perception gap stimulates political conversation about crime in cities like St. Louis.

Why did President Trump mention sending the National Guard to St. Louis?

President Trump revealed that Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena had suggested St. Louis, citing the city as seriously impacted and requiring more assistance from the federal government for security and safety.

What does crime data reveal in St. Louis?

Police figures show crime is decreasing. Homicides were down by more than 40% from 2020 to 2024 and overall serious crime was down by 17% compared to the previous year.

How have local officials responded to Trump’s idea?

These officials have largely reacted in disbelief. City officials were wary. Board President Megan Green emphasized the need for the funds not to go towards policing but rather disaster recovery. Mayor Cara Spencer commented that she would like to be informed of any intentions.

Source: www.kbia.org

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