UPDATE: Democratic leaders are denouncing President Donald Trump‘s incendiary claims regarding the tragic death of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump insinuated that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was involved in Hortman’s assassination, prompting fierce backlash from party officials.
Just hours ago, 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.” The posts come in the wake of the shocking murder of Hortman and her husband, who were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14. Their dog also succumbed to injuries from the attack.
The alleged assailant, Vance Boelter, faces both state and federal charges in connection to the Hortman murders and the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife on the same night. He is currently detained in Sherburne County.
Stephenson, a close friend of Hortman, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “She was murdered by a right-wing, anti-abortion extremist who believed conspiracy theories about COVID. Melissa Hortman and Tim Walz were friends and allies. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Vice Chair, issued a joint statement condemning Trump’s remarks. They stated, “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, President Trump’s spreading of dangerous and hateful lies about our friend and colleague Governor Tim Walz.”
The powerful statement underscores their commitment to unity amid political strife: “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 described Trump’s posts as “soulless” and dangerous. “The man charged with killing Melissa and Mark Hortman, shooting John and Yvette Hoffman, and targeting dozens more Minnesota Democrats, was known to traffic in exactly the kind of conspiracy theory Donald Trump just endorsed,” she said. Murphy added, “Lying about the assassinations of the Hortmans puts people in danger and fans the flames of political violence.”
Beshear and Whitmer further urged all political leaders, regardless of party affiliation, to denounce Trump’s claims.
In response to the controversy, Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Springs, remarked, “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.” As the political landscape intensifies, Demuth, who is running for governor against Walz, stressed that “the man who took her life should spend the rest of his life in prison.”
This developing story highlights the ongoing tensions in Minnesota politics following the tragic deaths of the Hortmans. As more details emerge, the implications of Trump’s statements could reverberate throughout the political community, raising concerns about the impact of rhetoric on public safety and unity.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation continues to unfold.
