Tim Walz has become a target of criticism from Republicans since becoming Kamala Harris' running mate. Meanwhile, CNN recalls that in 2020, then-President Donald Trump praised Walz for his handling of the riots in Minnesota following the murder of George Floyd, calling him, among other things, “a great guy.”
Tim Walz Became Kamala Harris' Candidate to take over the office of vice president USA in the event of a Democrat winning the November presidential election. CNN notes that since the decision was announced, Republicans have tried to portray Walz in a negative light, recalling, among other things, the riots that broke out in Minneapolis, the largest city in the state of Minnesota governed by Tim Walz, in 2020.
Meanwhile, CNN reminds us that the then US president Donald Trump He then praised Tim Walz's actions for his effective response to the riots.
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Donald Trump Praised Tim Walz
The riots in Minneapolis were a reaction to the death of 46-year-old black man George Floydwho died while in police custody on May 25, 2020. A few days later, on June 1, Donald Trump held a conversation on the subject with his closest aides and a group of governors, the full content of which was obtained by CNN at the time.
“I completely agree with the way he's handled it the last few days,” Trump reportedly said of Walz, calling him a “great guy.” “You've got a great National Guard that's ready to go in there and fight like hell. I'm telling you, what they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated (the situation – ed.). It happened immediately,” Trump told the governors.
– Tim Walz, I'll say it again, I've been very pleased with the last few days. Tim, you called in a large number (of security officials – ed.) and they overwhelmed them so quickly, it was like knocking down bowling pins – Trump said.
The National Guard in Minneapolis during the 2020 riotsCRAIG LASSIG/PAP/EPA
CNN asked Trump's campaign about the comments. “The timing and the context of the comments are important,” a Trump campaign aide said in response. “(Trump) complimented the governor for finally, after days of madness, finally doing something. So it wasn't in real time, it was after Walz finally did something about it,” he added.
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Minneapolis riots
CNN notes that both in 2020 and more recently, Republicans criticized Tim Walz for waiting too long to call in the National Guard to Minnesota. In fact, Walz called in the unit on May 28, three days after Floyd's murder and the same day protesters set fire to a Minneapolis police station, CNN explains.
A burning store during the 2020 Minneapolis riotsCRAIG LASSIG/PAP/EPA
The outlet says Republicans are now trying to link Walz’s image to the shocking images of a burning and devastated Minneapolis. Trump’s vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance told reporters Tuesday that Walz “let protesters burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X that Walz “sat back and let Minneapolis burn,” and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said the Minnesota governor allowed protesters to burn down more than 1,500 businesses and a police station, something he “could have prevented if he wanted to.”
Trump himself, in late July, before Walz was announced by Harris as his vice presidential candidate, told his supporters at a rally in St. Cloud that it was he, not the governor, who called the National Guard to Minnesota. “I sent the National Guard to save Minneapolis while Kamala Harris She sided with the arsonists and rioters and collected money to save the criminals, he said.
Main image source: PAP/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS