Did Donald Trump dial to ‘grossly incompetent' Tim Walz after tragic Minnesota shooting?
US President Donald Trump on Sunday stated that he 'may' dial Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota following a politically motivated killing that rocked the state.
Minnesota is in shock following two consecutive shootings. Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, a former speaker of the state house, and her husband Mark were shot and killed by a masked shooter posing as a police officer early Saturday, according to authorities. A state senator and his wife were also injured in the tragic shooting.
While denouncing the violence in an interview with Rachel Scott of ABC News, Trump referred to the Democratic Governor Walz as 'grossly incompetent' and a 'terrible governor'.
'Well, it's a terrible thing. I think he's a terrible governor. I think he's a grossly incompetent person. But I may, I may call him, I may call other people too,' Trump told Scott.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the suspected shooter, was arrested after over 40 hours manhunt.
The shootings, according to Walz, were an 'act of targeted political violence.'
Also Read: Ivanka Trump's Father's Day message goes viral on: Did she mention dad Donald Trump this year?
Trump denounced the violence soon after the incident.
'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place,' the President said.
According to a source close to Walz, the Minnesota Governor discussed the shootings with Vice President JD Vance, ABC News reported.
'The Governor expressed appreciation for the ongoing coordination between federal law enforcement and Minnesota public safety officials," the source stated.
Also Read: Did Elon Musk poke fun at Trump amid nationwide 'No Kings' protests? His latest post raises eyebrows
Trump has not contacted Walz, according to a second source close to the Minnesota Governor who spoke to ABC News early Sunday afternoon.
The source informed that former President Joe Biden gave Walz a call 'right away.'
The FBI and the attorney general's office will look into the shootings, according to a statement from the White House, and 'will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
18 minutes ago
- NDTV
US Court Extends Pause On Trump Bid To Block Harvard Foreign Students
Washington: A judge on Monday extended a restraining order pausing Donald Trump's ban on Harvard bringing in and hosting foreign students as part of the US president's escalating campaign against the elite university. Trump has tried a host of different tactics to block the Ivy League institution enrolling and educating international students. They have included seeking to remove Harvard from an electronic student immigration registry, and instructing foreign embassies to deny visas to students hoping to attend the Massachusetts-based university. Harvard had sued the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to block the efforts, arguing that they were illegal and unconstitutional. It previously secured a temporary restraining order against the government, which federal Judge Allison Burroughs extended Monday at a hearing in Boston. International students accounted for 27 percent of total enrollment at Harvard in the 2024-2025 academic year and are a major source of income. "Court takes matter under advisement. Current temporary restraining order will stay in effect through June 23," the court clerk wrote on the electronic case docket. The halt on the Trump administration's crackdown on Harvard's foreign enrollees will be in force until Burroughs decides whether to further extend it with a preliminary injunction. In court filings, Harvard has argued that Trump's actions were "part of a concerted and escalating campaign of retaliation by the government in clear retribution for Harvard's exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum, and the 'ideology' of its faculty and students." Alongside the campaign against Harvard's foreign students, the Trump administration has also cut around $3.2 billion of federal grants and contracts benefiting the university and pledged to exclude it from any future federal funding. Harvard has been at the forefront of Trump's campaign against top universities after it defied his calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and "viewpoint diversity." Trump and his allies argue Harvard and other prestigious universities are unaccountable bastions of liberal, anti-conservative bias and anti-Semitism.
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Donald Trump dares Iran to strike a deal before it's too late: ‘They're not winning this war'
US President Donald Trump on Monday (June 16) said Iran is signaling it is ready to "talk" about limiting its uranium enrichment, just days after a large-scale Israeli assault destroyed many of Tehran's key nuclear sites and killed several top officials. 'They'd like to talk, but they should have done that before I had 60 days, and they had 60 days,' Trump told reporters at the start of a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. 'And on the 61st day, I said, we don't have a deal.' Trump's comments referenced a 60-day window he gave Tehran after his April 7 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. The US President signaled a potential opening for diplomacy but warned that time is running out. 'They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties,' he said. 'But I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they usually talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late.' Trump added that not all of Iran's nuclear program had been neutralised, hinting that there's still room for negotiation, said There's still some of the program intact, including that one inside the mountain — Fordow.. Israel launched the extensive airstrikes on Friday, targeting both senior Iranian personnel and several above-ground nuclear facilities. The attack followed new findings from UN nuclear watchdogs that Iran's uranium enrichment was approaching weapons-grade levels, breaching multiple international thresholds. Hundreds killed, nuclear sites hit, and diplomatic talks collapse amid rising regional tensions Israel's surprise multi-pronged attack on Friday marked a dramatic escalation in long-standing hostilities with Iran, igniting an open war that has already left hundreds dead and raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Using a combination of drones and warplanes—including some drones reportedly smuggled into Iran—Israel struck key targets including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility and a nuclear research complex in Isfahan. The strikes also destroyed radar installations, air defenses, oil refineries, and government buildings. The Israeli military said the assault aimed to dismantle Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had censured Tehran days earlier for failing to comply with inspection requirements. Iran confirmed the deaths of several top military and nuclear leaders in the initial attack. Among those killed were Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of Iran's armed forces; Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard; and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard's missile program. Two senior nuclear scientists were also reportedly killed, along with dozens of civilians. By Monday, Iran said the death toll had risen to at least 224 people, with over 1,200 injured. Civilian casualties were also reported after Israel expanded its target list to include population centers and infrastructure. Iran responded swiftly, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel's multi-layered air defense system intercepted most of them, but at least two dozen missiles penetrated, killing 24 people and injuring more than 500. On Monday, Iran launched a second wave of missiles, killing five more people. Israeli officials claimed their forces had achieved "air supremacy" over Tehran and were prepared for further strikes. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that future attacks would be 'more forceful, severe, precise and destructive.' Efforts to revive nuclear negotiations were abruptly derailed. Talks scheduled for Sunday in Oman between US and Iranian envoys were canceled following the Israeli strikes. The Trump administration had been pursuing a revised agreement to limit Iran's enrichment in return for sanctions relief, but those discussions are now in limbo.
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Why India Stayed Out Of SCO's Condemnation Of Israel's Strikes On Iran
New Delhi: When the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) issued a strong statement condemning Israel's recent military actions in Iran, there was one country that chose to stay silent. And that nation was India. The decision caught attention, especially since the rest of the group, which includes China, Russia and several Central Asian nations, had spoken in one voice. The situation has sparked questions over why New Delhi kept its distance, and what factors might be shaping that choice. Israel continues to carry out a series of attacks targeting Iranian cities, military zones and nuclear facilities. Tehran is responding with missile strikes. The exchange has left hundreds of dead in Iran, including senior military personnel and civilians. As the violence escalated, the SCO released a joint message criticising Israel's actions – calling them a threat to international stability. The statement described the strikes as violations of international law and expressed support for a diplomatic resolution. India, however, chose not to sign the document or be part of its preparation. Where India Stands India's Ministry of External Affairs responded separately. In its statement, it urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue. It also said that New Delhi is monitoring developments closely and is concerned about any escalation, especially those involving nuclear infrastructure. India made it clear that it maintains good relations with both countries and would be willing to help bring down tensions. This position is consistent with what India has said before. In a call with Iran's foreign minister, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed concern and called for diplomacy. However, India did not directly criticise either party. A Careful Position India's silence on the SCO statement was not accidental. Unlike other member states, it has ties on both sides of this conflict. Israel has been a major defence partner. India buys a large amount of military hardware from Israel and has shared intelligence links. At the same time, Iran has been an important energy partner, and the two countries have worked closely on the development of Chabahar Port – a strategic gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. This dual engagement places India in a sensitive spot. A public alignment with either side could strain ties with the other. India has invested heavily in the Chabahar Port project. This port is critical to India's regional plans, especially to trade with Afghanistan while bypassing Pakistan. However, renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran have complicated these efforts. India had earlier secured a waiver from Washington to continue work on Chabahar, but the return of the Trump administration has changed the picture. New restrictions could put Indian investments at risk. Meanwhile, Israel remains one of India's key security partners. The two countries have increased defence cooperation in recent years, and there are ongoing joint projects in missiles, drones and surveillance systems. Inside the SCO India's reluctance to join the SCO statement may also reflect the internal dynamics of the organisation. While the SCO includes countries like China and Russia, both of which are closer to Tehran, India's alignment has increasingly moved toward Western democracies. Analysts say that India, while part of the SCO, often finds itself in a different position on major issues compared to some of the bloc's dominant members. Just before the SCO issued its statement, India also abstained from a UN General Assembly vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. That move too raised eyebrows. Some experts believe India's choice at the United Nations was shaped by its broader foreign policy goals, including a pending trade deal with the United States. A closer relationship with Washington could mean keeping a distance from positions that are seen as strongly pro-Iran or anti-Israel. No Simple Answers India's foreign policy has long been based on keeping channels open with all major players. Whether it is the United Stated and Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia or Israel and Palestine, New Delhi has avoided taking sides publicly, preferring to work through quiet diplomacy. In this case, India's silence speaks to that tradition. It does not necessarily indicate support or opposition. Instead, it appears to be a reflection of New Delhi's attempt to protect its interests in a volatile region without burning bridges.
