The Politics of Political Violence: “Why Would I Call Him?”

King Trump says he has no plans to call Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after two political murders and two political attempted murders in the state over the weekend, calling Walz “whacked out” and “a mess.”

Further, “I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”

COLLINS: Have you called Tim Walz yet?TRUMP: I don't really call him. He appointed this guy to a position. I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I'm not calling him … he's a mess.

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-06-17T12:58:47.643Z

What others are saying:

Don Jr blatantly lies about Vance Boelter: "I have a feeling that leftist Tim Walz isn't exactly appointing conservatives. Apparently he had the No Kings flyer in his thing. But he went after someone that didn't just blindly follow Democrat, radical leftist dogma."

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-06-16T15:27:04.770Z

Utah Senator Mike Lee also took that MAGA interpretation and ran with it.

After Mike Lee’s official statement on his X account was to condemn violence and add thoughts and prayers, the real Mike Lee stood up.

From his personal X account, he posted memes that mocked the deadly violence in Minnesota.

.@timmiller.bsky.social on Mike Lee: "Either he's so mentally ill and deranged that he's convinced himself that this person is a Marxist, and that Tim Walz is responsible….Or he knows it's a lie….either one of those options makes him totally unacceptable as a person in public trust."

The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2025-06-16T21:44:51.812Z

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith and her staff confronted Mike Lee, urging him to delete his shitposts. Today they are deleted, but are never erased from internet history.

Photo from The Hill's Al Weaver (from Xitter) catches Tina Smith confronting Mike Lee.

emptywheel (@emptywheel.bsky.social) 2025-06-16T22:11:29.074Z

The children of the Minnesota Speaker Emerita released a statement on Monday evening. They lost both of their parents as well as their Golden Retriever in the attack.

NYT, The Guardian