Local reaction to President Donald Trump’s move to send troops into a blue city within a red state appears to be vastly different than the reaction in blue states like California and Illinois.

The National Guard began patrolling Memphis streets with the approval of Republican Governor Bill Lee last week, and the improvement is undeniable to many residents brave enough to admit it.

A man who goes by “Smoky” said he was initially against troops coming to his city, but he can’t deny the “numbers” and the “change” he’s witnessed in his “hood.”

“I was against all, pretty much everything, the National Guard, the police units… I was against this s**t, and then I seen the numbers after the first week,” he said.

“I can’t wholeheartedly say they’re doing a bad thing… I love my city… I’m in the heart of this s**t, I love this s**t, but I would be lying if I ain’t read some numbers and say damn that’s a good thing for Memphis.

“The National Guard being here, the police being here, I ain’t got s**t to say about this. It’s kinda hard for me to say they’re doing something wrong.”

This man was dead set against President Trump sending the National Guard and allowing the police and military to flood Memphis, but seeing that crime is down and it’s been peaceful after one week by getting convicted murderers and armed felons off the streets. He now admits that… pic.twitter.com/xSVJANlzVu

— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) October 12, 2025

When pressed on TikTok by MAGA fans about credit and support for President Trump, Smoky couldn’t quite get there, but he came close.

“I couldn’t care less about politics, but I’m seeing change in my hood, so I’m not against it,” he said.

Smoky’s revelation was good enough for X users who praised him for his public commentary:

A resident female of Memphis stated that for the first time in 5 years her young sons could go play in their backyard w/o fear. She hasn’t heard a gunshot in 2 weeks & there are actually people walking in the neighborhood & kids playing outside. This is how all our American…

— Madhopper65 (@Madhopper687377) October 12, 2025

The American public need to hear from people like you who are seeing what’s happening real time. All we want is the TRUTH. Get it out there. Thank you

— Normy (@normy454) October 12, 2025

All Americans deserve to have peaceful streets, neighborhoods, and cities and towns, and not live in fear of being attacked or robbed or otherwise accosted.

— Jmst (@Jmstgold) October 13, 2025

I am glad you admitted that you were incorrect and that your city needed this. That took a man to admit! ❤️

— Karen Sliwowski (@sliwo55587) October 12, 2025

Yes! And he’s not alone, thankfully.

Another Memphis man praised the changes, saying that kids are back outside playing and riding their bikes as they should be.

Wait a minute… the media told us blacks didn’t support Trump sending the National Guard to Memphis

All I wanna say is Trumps doing a good thing, we got the kids back outside on their bikes, I can walk to the store, I ain’t walked to the store in 20 yrs

Boy, were they wrong pic.twitter.com/QDqXc6RJmK

— @Chicago1Ray (@Chicago1Ray) October 13, 2025

The question is, why don’t blue state governors want this for the residents of their cities?

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