Trump's 2020 Praise for Walz's Riot Handling Contradicts GOP Criticism Ahead of 2024 Elections

In the wake of the 2020 unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers have criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat and vice presidential nominee, for his response to the riots. However, a phone call with governors, including Walz, revealed that then-President Trump commended Walz's handling of the situation and expressed his satisfaction with it.

The audio obtained by CBS News captured Trump stating, "I know Governor Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days." Trump later spoke to Fox News, referencing the conversation, albeit characterizing it as a call from Walz, in which he claimed that Walz sought his help. Trump mentioned, "His house was surrounded by people that were waving an American flag. That didn't sound like very bad people, and he called me, and he was very concerned — very, very concerned that it was going to get out of control. They only had one guard, I guess it was at the mansion or at his … house." He further stated that Walz requested him to "put out the word that I'm a good person, and I did I put out the word, I said, 'he's a good person.'"

Contradictory Perspectives

Despite Trump's praise for Walz, Republican figures, such as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, have accused Walz of inaction during the riots. Scalise took to social media, stating, "Tim Walz is a radical who let rioters burn Minneapolis to the ground in 2020."

During the 58-minute call with governors, Trump expressed high regard for Walz, claiming, "He's an excellent guy. You've got a big National Guard out there that's ready to come in and fight like hell. I tell you, the best — what they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately." While Trump asserted that he dispatched guard forces, it was revealed that Walz had already activated them prior to the call. The audio of the call demonstrated Walz's agreement with Trump's insistence on using force to quell the riots initially, with Walz emphasizing the importance of facilitating peaceful protests in the subsequent phase. Walz remarked during the call, "I think the guidance is, you got to get a handle on it with that force — that is absolutely correct. And then the transition in the next stage is trying to get those spaces for the peaceful protest. And I'm happy to do things that we have to look at — of how do we get reforms?"

Response to Controversy

When asked for comment regarding Trump's previous remarks, the campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, issued a statement on Wednesday, stating, "Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, despite President Trump's offer to deploy soldiers and cries for help from the liberal Mayor of Minneapolis. In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, days after the riots began, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard to end the violence in the city."

Political Dynamics and Election Implications

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, the differing perspectives on Governor Walz's response to the riots in Minneapolis during the unrest following George Floyd's murder continue to garner attention. The contrasting portrayals of Walz's actions by Republican leaders and Trump's acknowledgment of Walz's handling of the situation add complexity to the political narrative surrounding the events of 2020.

The debate surrounding Governor Walz's response to the riots, along with Trump's praise for his actions, contributes to shaping the discourse as the 2024 election approaches. The dissonance between Republican criticism and Trump's commendation of Walz's handling of the unrest highlights the intricacies of political dynamics and the differing interpretations of critical events during a tumultuous period.

The evolving political landscape in Minnesota and its implications for the broader national discourse will be closely monitored in the lead-up to the 2024 election, as the dialogues surrounding leadership, governance, and crisis management continue to resonate within the political arena.