It would ‘waste time': Trump says he won't call Minnesota Gov. after lawmaker shootings
President Donald Trump said he has no plans to call Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after a politically-motivated shooting of two state politicians in his state.
'I don't really call him,' Trump said, speaking to reporters on Air Force One June 16. 'I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out, I'm not calling him. Why would I call him?'
"I could call him, say, 'Hi, how are you doing?' The guy doesn't have a clue, he's a mess,' Trump said. 'So I could be nice and call him but why waste time?'
It is common for political leaders to call one another to offer condolences and support after a traumatic shooting or natural disaster in a state. Former President Joe Biden and Vice President JD Vance called Walz on Saturday, and Ontario premier, Doug Ford, called Walz on Monday.
Walz was the Democratic vice presidential nominee when Trump beat former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024."Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans, but this tragedy isn't about Trump or Walz. It's about the Hortman family, the Hoffman family, and the State of Minnesota, and the Governor remains focused on helping all three heal," Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann said in a statement.
Authorities say a man disguised as a police officer shot and killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former speaker of the state House, and her husband Mark, and wounded a state senator and his wife early Saturday. The accused gunman, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, was captured late Sunday night.
On Sunday, Trump condemned the violence, but called Walz, a Democrat, a "terrible governor" and "grossly incompetent" in an interview with ABC News' Rachel Scott.
(This story has been updated to include more information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he won't call Gov. Tim Walz after Minnesota shootings
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