Amid Trump’s continued critiques of Walz, the former President, Donald Trump’s praise for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s handling of the Minneapolis riots in 2020 has been recalled. The Associated Press reported on June 1, 2020 that an audio recording showed Trump praising Walz for responding to the unrest after George Floyd was murdered.
In today’s context, where he is attacking and insulting Walz repeatedly, this commendation President Trump made to various governors and officials was particularly striking. “What they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately,” Trump said during the call. Others who participated in the conversation included top officials like Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Army General Mark Milley and Attorney General William Barr.
Walz’s running mate has just been revealed as Vice President Kamala Harris as she prepares to face off with JD Vance versus trump in this upcoming election. Therefore, when this information came out it underscored how his comments about Walz have become different over time from what they were initially.
During these riots that followed Floyd’s death at the hands of former cop Derek Chauvin, Walz sent in troops from Minnesota National Guard to restore order. However, Walz refused such help when offered by president Trump. He argued that he had called on the national guard himself during a fundraising event for his campaign in St.Paul held four years ago in May.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended this revised narrative. “Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days despite President Trump offering soldiers,” Leavitt claimed. “While appearing before state governors June 1st morning briefing phone call President Trump gave credit to Governor Walz FINALLY authorizing use of the National Guard.”
On earlier calls made during June 2020 however Trump referred warmly to him as a “great guy” claiming he acted very promptly against riotous unrests. Among others he had pointed out, “Tim, you called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast, it was like bowling pins.”
Walz spoke not just to Trump but other officials too in that call to thank them for guidance offered and express his worry about distress in the city.
Even as broader tensions and shifting narratives from the 2020 crisis are reflected in this decision of Walz’s to campaign alongside Harris against Trump, debates continue.
