UPDATE: Democratic leaders are urgently condemning President Donald Trump for sharing inflammatory posts on Truth Social that suggest Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was involved in the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. The shocking claims come in the wake of Hortman’s tragic death, which has left the community and her colleagues reeling.
In a statement released on Saturday night, House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson expressed his outrage, stating, “Tonight, Donald Trump, who couldn’t be bothered to lower the flags to half staff or even say Melissa Hortman’s name until now, is spreading outrageous lies about her death. I cannot begin to explain the pain and anger that he is causing.” Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2023; their dog also succumbed to injuries from the attack.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, is facing state and federal charges for the murders as well as for the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife that same night. Boelter is currently being held in Sherburne County.
Stephenson, who was personally close to Hortman, described the tragedy as a “murder committed by a right-wing, anti-abortion extremist who believed in conspiracy theories about COVID.” He firmly stated that “Melissa Hortman and Tim Walz were friends and allies. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.”
In a joint statement, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Vice Chair, condemned Trump’s posts as “dangerous and hateful lies.” They emphasized, “As leaders, it is our responsibility to bring people together and keep our communities safe from threats, including the threat of political violence — not fan the flames of division by pushing baseless conspiracy theories.”
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy called Trump’s remarks “soulless,” stating that the man charged with killing the Hortmans and attacking other Democrats was known for spreading conspiracy theories similar to those endorsed by Trump. Murphy urged, “Lying about the assassinations of the Hortmans puts people in danger and fans the flames of political violence.”
Beshear and Whitmer also called on all political leaders, regardless of party affiliation, to publicly denounce Trump’s claims as unacceptable.
In response to inquiries about Trump’s posts, Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth of the Republican Party stated, “Melissa Hortman was a friend and colleague, and her life was cut short far too soon in an unspeakable act of evil by a deranged killer.” Demuth, who is running against Walz for governor, added, “She should still be here, and the man who took her life should spend the rest of his life in prison.”
The fallout from Trump’s claims continues to unfold as Democratic leaders push back against the dangerous rhetoric. The community is left to grapple with the aftermath of violence while leaders seek to unify and protect their constituents from further political discord.
As this story develops, it remains critical for citizens to stay informed about the responses from political leaders and the implications of such incendiary claims. The call for truth and accountability has never been more urgent.
