Trump commends Walz in 2020 for handling of riots following George Floyd’s death

In 2020, following the tragic death of George Floyd and the ensuing riots in Minnesota, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers criticized Governor Tim Walz for his handling of the situation. However, in a surprising turn of events, Trump praised Walz during a phone call with governors, including Walz himself, expressing his approval of the way the governor managed the crisis. Trump stated that he was “very happy” with Walz’s actions.

During the phone call, which was obtained by CBS News, Trump commended Walz, saying, “I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days.” Trump also mentioned an incident where individuals waving an American flag surrounded Walz’s house, leading the governor to call Trump for assistance. Despite initial criticisms from Republicans, Trump portrayed Walz as a good person who acted responsibly in a challenging situation.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and other Republicans had accused Walz of inaction during the riots, labeling him as a “radical” who allowed Minneapolis to be burnt to the ground. However, Trump’s positive comments during the call with governors contradicted these accusations, as he described Walz as an “excellent guy” and praised the quick and effective response of the National Guard in Minneapolis.

It is important to note that Walz had already activated the National Guard before Trump’s call took place, debunking the narrative that Trump’s intervention was the catalyst for deploying forces. The audio of the call also revealed that both Trump and Walz agreed on the use of force to quell the riots initially, with Walz emphasizing the need to transition to enabling peaceful protests.

Following Trump’s remarks, his campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended the President’s stance, highlighting Walz’s delayed deployment of National Guard troops despite offers of assistance. Leavitt’s statement insinuated that Trump’s acknowledgment of Walz during the call was a recognition of the governor’s eventual action to curb the violence in the city.

Despite initial criticisms and political disagreements, the unexpected praise from Trump towards Governor Walz shed light on the complex dynamics of crisis management and government response during times of turmoil. The audio of the call provided a unique insight into the interactions between federal and state leaders during a challenging period in Minnesota’s history.

Zak Hudak and
Hunter Woodall
contributed to this report.