Bill Lee (00:00):
Great cities like Memphis need to be safe cities and his commitment to this city as evidenced by General Bondi, by Secretary Hegseth, by Mr. Miller, by Director Serralta, by the full complement of resources available to us in the state of Tennessee, from the federal government from a law enforcement standpoint. When that commitment was made, I found myself saying, for the first time since I've been governor in seven years, we just might not. We just might. We will see this great American city, free of its crime. We will see Memphians once again, be able to raise our family and live and work and worship and enjoy this great city like they should in an American city like Memphis. I'm very grateful to the President. I'm very grateful to his team, but I'm very grateful for you. For you who are out there doing the hard, putting yourself in, keep harm away from Memphians.
(01:17)
That's what's happening. That's what's begun this week. The level of gratitude and the excitement that we have in my office and frankly across the state of Tennessee for what's happening here in Memphis, hard to measure. Thank you. Thank you for the work that you're doing. Thank you for everyone up on the stage.
Pam Bondi (01:40):
Thank you all for what you do. President Trump made it clear to all of us, and we know that Memphis is an iconic city and we are going to make Memphis safe again. That's why we're here. We're working hand in hand with you. President Trump cares about you and all of us care about you. All of the Memphis police officers, all of you, we are here to have your backs, all of the law enforcement officers in this room. You've got our backs and we are going to have yours. And by the way, there's a federal shutdown right now. I don't know if you saw that in D.C. Well, we know crime doesn't shut down and that's why we're all here. You work 24/7 and we're all working 24/7 to have your backs. Federal agents in this room, DEA, ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals, working hand in hand with HSI, all of Pete's guard, all of our officers working hand in hand with you as a team.
(02:40)
That's what we did in D.C. and that's what we're going to do here. We're going to keep you safe. And let me be very, very clear. I'm a career prosecutor. If you touch a law enforcement officer, it is a crime and you are going to jail. We are arresting anyone who touches any of you. If you touch [inaudible 00:03:04] it's going to be assault on a federal officer. We have our U.S Attorney here. And to all of you, state and local officers, let's see what your DA does because he better prosecute crimes against you because we have your back. We know there is no ordinary day in the life of a police officer. And thank you for what you do and thank your families. You are out here night and day. God bless you. We are here for you and we will always be here for you. We are going to … This is long term. We are going to work hand in hand to make the most violent crime city in the country have no crime. Thank you all. God bless you and God bless America.
Pete Hegseth (03:57):
I'll just say what a privilege it is to be here. We see you up front. We see you in the back. I see green, blue, black, tan, camouflage all together. One cause, one city. It's really cool to have a privilege and we all do. Steve and Pam, myself, so many others, to see how much President Trump loves Americans, American cities and American citizens, and how he puts America first. And at the Department of War, we are proud to be part of that effort to ensure we're defending the homeland and defending those who defend the homeland. Whether it's our Southwest border or we brought it to zero folks crossing illegally, whether it's in Los Angeles, where we stand by our partners in ICE who need to be able to have the ability to do their job anywhere, in any American city, whether it's Washington D.C., ensuring our nation's capital is safe for citizens and visitors who come to visit that beautiful place, or right here in Memphis where your families, every family deserves to live safe and free.
(05:17)
So I had a chance yesterday to talk a little bit how we're changing the environment at the Department of War. I see some great beards out here. They're just not allowed in the infantry anymore. Undercover. That's right. I just cannot thank you enough for what you do. What you do in difficult places, in dark places, in dangerous places where politicians spend a lot of time second-guessing you. Second-guessing the impossible decisions that you have to make that they will understand. It's part of what we're trying to do with the department for our troops overseas or in combat and elsewhere, is we're not here to second guess you. We're here to have your back, to unleash you to do your job so you come home safely. Our department is here to enable you, law enforcement, to do your job, to help protect your facilities, help protect your people so that your hands can be untied to secure your city. So our department's proud to be here. It's a priority for us. The Tennessee National Guard's going to be right here, having your back, Godspeed. God bless. Thank you for everything you do.
Stephen Miller (06:37):
Thank you Pete, Gady, Pam, and of course your governor for not only being here today, but for the invitation to your state to bring the government making never possibly imagined.
(06:59)
To the Memphis Police Department, the officers that I see sitting in front of me, we are about to provide you with a level of support you cannot even imagine. This isn't just a task force. This is a all of government unlimited support operation: ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE< Department of War, every resource we have. And they're not going to be sitting behind a desk at a keyboard. We are sending in real cops with guns imagined or possibly imagined. To the Memphis Police Department, the officers and I see sitting in front of me. We are about to provide you with a level of support you cannot even imagine. This isn't just a task force. This is a all of government unlimited support operation, ATF, DEA, FBI, ice Department of War, every resource we have. And they're not going to be sitting behind a desk at a keyboard. We are sending in real cops with guns and badges, to go out with you on the street every single night making arrests. These are people who have taken down drug cartels, kingpins, the worst criminal offenders in the United States, standing with you shoulder to shoulder to shoulder.
(08:28)
All we ask from you is to show up at roll call every single night with your brothers and sisters in the federal government and to go out and get the criminals off the street. And if you do that, I pledge to you, we will liberate this city from the criminal element that has plagued it for generations. This is not just a strategy shift, this is an attitude shift. We are not going to live in an environment anywhere where there is a street that belongs to a criminal, where there is a neighborhood that belongs to a gang, where there is any physical space anywhere that belongs to anyone other than the law-abiding citizens and families of Memphis.
(09:09)
The idea that there is a square inch of block in this city where a citizen doesn't feel safe is unacceptable. This is Memphis. This is the United States of America. And all that bullshit is done. It is over. It is finished. The gang-members that you deal with, they think that they're ruthless. They have no idea how ruthless we are. They think they're tough. They have no idea how tough we are. They think that they're hardcore. We are so much more hardcore than they are, and we have the entire weight of the United States government behind us. What do they have? They have nothing behind them. So we are going to win. They're going to lose. We are going to rescue Memphis. And it will not only be safer than before, but businesses and investment are going to pour in. And Memphis will be richer than ever before because President Trump has decided this is a priority. And when President Trump makes a decision, this team behind me today executes, thank you and God bless.
(10:26)
How do you want to do it?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
We got Chick-fil-A for you tonight.