United States President Donald Trump has decided not to contact Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following a tragic shooting incident that left a Democratic lawmaker dead and another injured. Over the weekend, Trump condemned the violence as “horrific” but made it clear on Tuesday that he wouldn’t reach out to Walz, who was the running mate of his opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election.
In a statement to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed his disapproval of Walz, saying, “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess.” He questioned the purpose of a phone call, suggesting it would be a waste of time.
Governor Walz responded by saying he wasn’t surprised by Trump’s decision. He mentioned that he had spoken with Vice President JD Vance, who assured him that the FBI would collaborate with state officials to address the situation.
The shootings, which occurred early Saturday morning, involved 57-year-old Vance Boelter, who has been charged with murder and stalking. Boelter is accused of killing Melissa Hortman, a prominent Democratic state representative, and her husband, Mark. He also shot Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, both of whom survived the attack.
Authorities reported that Boelter approached the lawmakers’ homes wearing a face mask and body armor, claiming to be a police officer. After the shootings, he allegedly sent a message to his family stating, “Dad went to war last night.” Investigators are still trying to determine a motive, but they found notebooks in Boelter’s possession that contained names of Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates.
Joseph Thompson, Minnesota’s acting U.S. attorney, noted that political assassinations are rare and pose a serious threat to democracy. While there is no clear manifesto outlining Boelter’s motivations, friends have claimed he was a supporter of Trump and opposed abortion rights.
The incident has raised alarms about political violence in the United States. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of politically motivated attacks, including an assassination attempt on Trump and an arson attempt at the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the implications of these violent acts and the broader concerns about political safety in the country. Boelter is scheduled to appear in court again on June 27.