Trump praised Gov. Walz’s handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, United States — In 2020, amid the tumult following the tragic death of George Floyd, former President Donald Trump expressed approval for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s handling of a critical period of civil unrest. This support came despite previous criticism from Trump and his political ally J.D. Vance of Walz’s tactics.

During a strategy call with U.S. governors on June 1, 2020, Trump praised the actions taken in Minneapolis. “They took control quickly and effectively,” Trump noted in the call, highlighting the city’s swift response. This conversation, recorded and later obtained by the Associated Press, is significant because Gov. Walz has been chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the upcoming election against Trump and Vance.

The call was attended by high-profile members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and Attorney General William Barr. Initial details of the call were first reported by ABC News, followed by a detailed transcript released by CNN.

The unrest in Minneapolis, which sparked global protests, was sparked by a distressing incident involving Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, during an arrest on May 25, 2020. Video footage captured Chauvin kneeling on Floyd, who repeatedly shouted, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s death, widely condemned as an act of racial violence and police brutality, led to widespread violent protests.

Governor Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard three days after the incident to help quell the escalating violence and damage in Minneapolis. Although Trump offered federal support, Walz declined such assistance.

At a recent event in St. Paul, Trump revisited those events, emphasizing his role in pushing for control measures during the riots. “If it weren’t for my presidency, Minneapolis would have been lost,” he told supporters.

However, official documents confirm that it was Governor Walz who ordered the deployment of the National Guard at the request of local mayors, contradicting narratives that attribute credit exclusively to federal intervention.

However, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt described the situation differently, suggesting that Walz’s initial hesitation contributed to the severity of the situation before acknowledging federal support.

As the political landscape heats up ahead of the upcoming elections, these events remain a focal point in debates about leadership and crisis management.