US election: Trump’s 2020 praise for Walz’s response to Minneapolis riots collides with current criticism

Former President Donald Trump’s praise for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz‘s handling of the Minneapolis riots in 2020 has resurfaced amid Trump’s ongoing criticisms of Walz. During a phone call on June 1, 2020, Trump lauded Walz for his response to the unrest following George Floyd‘s murder, as revealed by an audio recording, reported by AP.
Trump’s praise, delivered to Walz and other governors and officials, stood in stark contrast to his current criticisms of the governor.“What they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately,” Trump said during the call. The conversation included other top officials such as Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Army Gen. Mark Milley, and Attorney General William Barr.

The recording’s release comes as Walz has been selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the upcoming election against Trump and his current ally, JD Vance. The timing of the revelation highlights the shift in Trump’s rhetoric regarding Walz.
During the riots, which followed Floyd’s death at the hands of former police officer Derek Chauvin, Walz mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to restore order. Trump’s subsequent offer of federal assistance was declined by Walz. Trump, in recent remarks, has claimed responsibility for deploying the National Guard, a point he reiterated during a May 2024 fundraiser in St. Paul.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, defended this revised narrative. “Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, despite President Trump’s offer to deploy soldiers,” Leavitt was quoted as saying. “In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard.”
In contrast, Trump’s earlier comments from the June 2020 call characterized Walz as “an excellent guy” and praised his quick action to quell the violence. Trump had specifically noted, “Tim, you called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast, it was like bowling pins.”
Walz acknowledged Trump and other officials during the call, thanking them for their guidance and expressing concern over the city’s grief and pain.
The debate over Walz’s response continues as he prepares to campaign alongside Harris against Trump, reflecting broader tensions and shifting narratives from the 2020 crisis.