UPDATE: Democratic leaders are urgently condemning President Donald Trump for spreading false claims about the tragic death of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump suggested that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was implicated in Hortman’s assassination, igniting outrage among political leaders.
In a powerful statement released on Saturday night, House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson expressed his deep anger, 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.” Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14, 2023, a horrific act that also left their dog dead.
The alleged shooter, Vance Boelter, faces both state and federal charges not only for the Hortmans’ deaths but also for the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife that same night. Boelter is currently held in Sherburne County.
Stephenson, a close friend of Hortman, emphasized the danger of Trump’s rhetoric, declaring, “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.”
In a joint statement, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and Vice Chair Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, condemned Trump’s comments, stating, “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, President Trump’s spreading of dangerous and hateful lies about our friend and colleague Governor Tim Walz.”
They further remarked, “As leaders, it is our responsibility to bring people together and keep our communities safe from threats, including the threat of political violence.” Their remarks underline the critical need for unity in the face of division fueled by unfounded conspiracy theories.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy described Trump’s posts as “soulless,” warning that they could incite further violence. “Lying about the assassinations of the Hortmans puts people in danger and fans the flames of political violence,” she stated. “Every Minnesota Republican should speak out with the truth against disgusting, dangerous lies, and condemn Donald Trump for again mocking tragedy and hurting people already suffering.”
Beshear and Whitmer also called on their colleagues from both parties to denounce Trump’s falsehoods, urging a collective stand against misinformation.
When approached for comment, Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, while running against Walz in the upcoming gubernatorial election, acknowledged the tragedy. “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,” she stated. “She should still be here, and the man who took her life should spend the rest of his life in prison.”
This developing story highlights the urgent need for responsible discourse in the political arena, especially in light of the recent violence that has shaken Minnesota. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the leaders and their responses to this highly charged rhetoric.
