President Donald Trump made it clear he has no intention of calling Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in the aftermath of the politically motivated assassinations that rocked the state. Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in what authorities describe as targeted attacks.
When asked whether he planned to reach out to Walz, Trump didn’t mince words:
“I don’t really call him. I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out, I’m not calling. Why would I call him?”
He added, “He’s a mess. I could say, ‘Hi, how are you doing?’ But why waste time?”
Trump asked on if he has called Tim Walz about the Minnesota shooting:
“I think The Governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him, why would I call him?… The guy doesn’t have a clue, he’s a mess. I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”
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— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 17, 2025
Trump had already condemned the shootings in an earlier statement, vowing justice for the victims and pledging full support from the Department of Justice and the FBI. But his refusal to extend a courtesy call to the Democratic governor sent a clear message: partisan mismanagement won’t be papered over with pleasantries.
The president doubled down during a follow-up interview, calling Walz “incompetent” and blaming weak leadership for the deteriorating political climate in the state. “This never should’ve happened,” Trump said. “Minnesota deserves better than this chaos.”
While some former officials—including Joe Biden—reportedly reached out to Walz, Trump is choosing a different approach: action over optics. As one senior aide put it, “The president is focused on restoring order, not making empty phone calls to the people who let this happen in the first place.”
Trump’s stance reflects a broader shift in how his administration is handling political violence: zero tolerance, no excuses, and no time for failed leadership.