Following a tragic week for the National Guard and the entire country, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday to rebut President Donald Trump’s blistering attacks on his leadership and the state’s Somali community.
The confrontation stems from the aftermath of a shooting involving two National Guard service members, one killed and one injured.
President Trump responded to the tragedy by vowing a crackdown on refugees, specifically targeting Minnesota’s Somali population and blasting Walz on Truth Social as “The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota.”
Speaking to host Kristen Welker, Walz dismissed the personal attack as a “badge of honor,” but condemned the language as dangerous for the country’s youth.
“Using that term is just so damaging. It’s hurtful. We have fought three decades to get this out of our schools,” Walz said. “He’s normalized this type of hateful behavior… mainly to distract from his incompetency.”
Trump’s comments painted a dark picture of Minnesota, alleging that “Somalian gangs are roving the streets, looking for prey” while citizens remain locked in their homes. Walz rejected the characterization, arguing that the President is demonizing professionals—doctors, lawyers, and educators—who contribute to the state’s economy.
“Do your job. Get the criminals out. Secure our border. But do it with dignity and respect,” Walz retorted.
READ: ‘Piece Of Sh*t’: GOP Strategist Tears Into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz For Trump Death Wish
Welker pressed the Governor on valid concerns regarding fraud within the state, citing over $1 billion in taxpayer money stolen from government programs during the COVID-19 pandemic by individuals of East African descent. When asked if he took responsibility for the oversight failure, Walz emphasized his administration’s role in prosecution.
“I take responsibility for putting people in jail,” Walz said, noting that while Minnesota is a generous state, it attracts criminals who exploit that system. He countered that the Trump administration has cut inspector general positions and programs designed to help states tackle such corruption.
The interview took a sharp turn toward the President’s health. Walz defended his recent call for Trump to release results from a recent MRI, pointing to the President’s behavior over the holiday weekend. Walz described Trump as “ranting” at midnight on Thanksgiving while others were with their families.
“It is clear the President is fading physically,” Walz argued, questioning why Trump has broken precedent by refusing to release medical records or tax returns. “This is a guy that randomly says the airspace over Venezuela is closed. He’s ruminating on if you could win a nuclear war… I am deeply concerned that he is incapable of doing the job.”
The segment concluded with a look back at the 2024 election. When asked about Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent assertion that it was “reckless” for allies to leave the reelection decision solely up to Joe Biden, Walz sidestepped the internal party politics.
Instead, he pivoted to a warning about ageism and ableism, suggesting that if there are lessons to be learned from Biden’s departure, they should currently apply to Trump, whom he characterized as “reckless” and putting Americans at risk.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
