Donald Trump “brings out the worst in people, and he brings out the worst in me,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated in a recent interview. The governor’s comments, made during a conversation with Minnesota news station KMSP, reflect an apologetic stance following his previous call for Democrats to “bully” Trump. The interview, published Thursday, marks Walz’s first television appearance since the tragic assassination of former Minnesota State House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.
Walz, who was Kamala Harris’s running mate during her unsuccessful presidential bid against Trump, had urged Democrats in late May to be “a little meaner” and “a little more fierce” in their opposition to Trump. This plea came as the party sought to regroup after their electoral defeat. However, the political landscape took a dark turn when, on June 14, an assassin fatally shot the Hortmans at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The same assailant also wounded Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife before surrendering to authorities.
The Aftermath of a Tragic Event
The interview with KMSP was billed as Walz’s first since the Hortman assassinations. Reflecting on his earlier rhetoric, Walz acknowledged, “Do we have to watch some of that? Yeah.” He eulogized Melissa Hortman at her funeral on June 28, reiterating his belief that Trump “brings out the worst in people,” including himself. Walz’s anger towards Trump, who reportedly faced two assassination attempts during his campaign, is fueled by the former president’s combative political style.
Walz criticized Trump for his response to the Hortman killings. In the immediate aftermath, Trump issued a statement acknowledging the “terrible shooting” but dismissed the idea of contacting Walz. “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out,” Trump said. “Why would I call him?” Walz, in response, accused Trump of using the tragedy as an opportunity for personal attacks, stating, “When this state is grieving and this nation saw what happened here, Donald Trump used it as an opportunity to attack me.”
Unraveling the Investigation
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted the suspect in the shootings, Vance Boelter, on charges including murder and stalking. Court documents revealed a handwritten letter from Boelter claiming responsibility for the shootings. The letter also alleged, falsely according to prosecutors and Walz, that the governor had orchestrated a plot to assassinate Minnesota’s Democratic U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
Walz distanced himself from Boelter, whom he had reappointed to the state’s workforce development advisory board in 2019. “Never, to the best of my ability, was [I] anywhere around” him, Walz stated, emphasizing that he did not know or communicate with Boelter.
Political Future and Reflections
Despite the turmoil, Walz has expressed interest in pursuing a third term as Minnesota governor in 2026, an office without term limits. Some political analysts speculate that he could be a contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Reflecting on the recent events, Walz expressed regret over not having the opportunity to develop a friendship with Melissa Hortman outside of their political roles. “I think that’s the piece that I regret,” he said.
The political climate in Minnesota remains tense as the state grapples with the aftermath of the shootings and the broader implications of political rhetoric. As the investigation into the Hortman and Hoffman shootings continues, Walz’s comments underscore the deep divisions and challenges facing American politics today.
