President Donald Trump told reporters he wouldn’t “waste time” calling “whacked out” Gov. Tim Walz after Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers were shot.
Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of assassinating Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home on Saturday. Boelter is also accused of seriously wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their home. Boelter, who law enforcement said committed the crimes while posing as a police officer and wearing a rubber mask, ultimately surrendered to police after a nearly two-day manhunt. The suspect reportedly had a hit list with dozens of names, including prominent Democrats, including Walz, and figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or the abortion rights movement.
“In Minnesota, there were a lot of horrific details that came out today about the suspect who’s been charged there,” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins said to the president aboard Air Force One on Tuesday morning. “Have you called the governor yet, or been able to speak to any of them?”
Trump gaggled with reporters on the plane after he left the G7 summit in Canada early.
“I don’t really call him. He appointed this guy to a position,” Trump replied, referencing a talking point that far-right personalities on the internet have used to make unfounded claims that Boelter had a personal relationship with Walz and was acting as an assassin for the governor to take out members of his own party.
“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling. Why would I call him?” Trump continued. “I could call him and say, hi, how ya’ doing? The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”
Walz was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 presidential election, on the ticket with former VP Kamala Harris.
