URGENT UPDATE: Democratic leaders are vocally condemning President Donald Trump for his incendiary claims regarding the tragic death of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Trump suggested in posts on Truth Social that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was involved in Hortman’s assassination, prompting outrage from local and national Democrats.
House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson expressed deep anguish over Trump’s remarks, stating, “Tonight, Donald Trump, who couldn’t be bothered to lower the flags to half staff or even say Melissa Hortman’s name until now, is spreading outrageous lies about her death.” The emotional fallout from Hortman’s murder, along with her husband in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14, 2023, has been profound, with the couple’s dog also succumbing to injuries in the attack.
Authorities have charged Vance Boelter in connection with their deaths, as well as the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife the same night. Boelter is currently held in Sherburne County, facing both state and federal charges.
Stephenson, a close friend of Hortman, emphasized, “She was murdered by a right-wing, anti-abortion extremist who believed conspiracy theories about COVID. Melissa Hortman and Tim Walz were friends and allies. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, along with Vice Chair and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, issued a joint statement condemning Trump’s actions. They stated, “As leaders, it is our responsibility to bring people together and keep our communities safe from threats, including political violence—not fan the flames of division by pushing baseless conspiracy theories.”
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy of St. Paul labeled Trump’s posts as “soulless.” She remarked, “The man charged with killing Melissa and Mark Hortman, targeting dozens more Minnesota Democrats, was known to traffic in exactly the kind of conspiracy theory Donald Trump just endorsed. Lying about the assassinations of the Hortmans puts people in danger and fans the flames of political violence.”
Murphy further urged every Minnesota Republican to condemn Trump’s statements, highlighting the dangerous implications of such rhetoric amidst a grieving community.
Beshear and Whitmer also called on colleagues from both parties to denounce Trump’s claims, stressing the importance of unity and safety.
When approached for comment, Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Springs, acknowledged the tragedy, saying, “Melissa Hortman was a friend and colleague, and her life was cut short far too soon in an unspeakable act of evil by a deranged killer.” Demuth, who is campaigning for governor against Walz, added, “She should still be here, and the man who took her life should spend the rest of his life in prison.”
As this story develops, it underscores the ongoing tensions within political discourse and the urgent need for accountability and unity in the wake of such heartbreaking violence. The implications of Trump’s statements are reverberating through the political landscape, raising questions about the responsibility of public figures in shaping narratives around tragedy.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation evolves.
