WASHINGTON – A few days after Minnesota Sen. was killed and another person was injured in a “politically motivated assassination,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he did not call a state governor and avoided a traditional presidential response to the tragedy.
“Why am I calling him? I can call and say, ‘Hello, how are you?’ The man has no clue,” Trump mentioned Gov. Tim Waltz, the vice presidential candidate to compete with Trump tickets in 2024.
The president has been called the national and local politicians on both sides of the aisle to lend support in the aftermath of violent tragedy such as natural disasters and prominent shootings.
Walz’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the president’s remarks.
Vice President JD Vance spoke with Walz after the shooting, a source close to the governor said. Waltz expressed his gratitude for coordinating federal law enforcement with Minnesota public safety officials, sources said.
Former President Joe Biden also called Waltz after the attack.
State Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed at home Saturday by gunmen impersonating police officers. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and seriously injured in the home.
The suspect, 57-year-old Vancebolter, was captured Sunday night after a high stakes man hunt. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said Saturday that police found a “manifesto” in the suspect’s vehicle, with names of other lawmakers and officials urging several lawmakers to strengthen security. Officials who saw the list said they targeted prominent Minnesotans, defending their abortion rights.
The shootings sparked new concerns about the spread of political violence. Waltz said the murder “seemed like a politically motivated assassination.”
Trump has previously contacted others related to the violent tragedy. During the 2024 presidential election, he attended Wake for fallen New York police officer Jonathan Diller. Earlier this year, Trump was D-Penn after an arson attack at the governor’s home. He was called Gov. Josh Shapiro.
This kind of outreach is traditional for the president. Then, then. D-Ariz. Gabby Giffords was filmed in 2011, and then President Barack Obama provided Republican Jan Brewer with “the complete federal resources.” Former President Joe Biden called Trump to check on his condition after his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania last year. Former government government George W. Bush called the gobs of the time. Tim Kane, D-Va, after more than 30 people were killed in a 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting.
At the same time, Trump critics argued that some of his actions had tolerated political violence. On his first day in office, Trump allowed around 1,500 people on January 6, 2021, to be charged with crimes related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The pardon gave no exception to those who attacked law enforcement officials.
