Former President Donald Trump recently claimed in a television interview that he "saved" Minnesota Governor Tim Walz from an angry group of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters during the 2020 riots. The assertion, made during a phone interview on Fox & Friends, sparked widespread criticism and fact-checking that debunked his statements.
During the interview, Trump recounted an incident where he said Walz called him for help as BLM protesters surrounded his governor's mansion. Trump claimed he responded by sending a message that Walz was a "good person," which supposedly led to the protesters dispersing peacefully. "He called me, and he was very concerned, very, very concerned that it was going to get out of control," Trump said. "I put out the word. I said, he's a good person. I hope everything's good. Everybody put down their flags and took their flags with them."
Critics quickly took to social media to challenge Trump's version of events. One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote, "The ego of this man! Trump was one of the major reasons the BLM protest even happened, and now he's taking credit for another man's work at de-escalating the situation." Another user labeled Trump a "pathological liar," while others mocked him for his apparent need to rewrite history to cast himself as a hero.
CNN's fact-checking team pointed out that Trump's narrative was flawed. The George Floyd protesters in 2020 did not carry "American flags and MAGA flags," as Trump claimed. Additionally, it was Walz who called in the National Guard to protect the Minneapolis metropolitan area, not Trump. This correction aligns with the documented actions of Governor Walz during the tumultuous period following George Floyd's death.
In a separate interview, Trump commented on Harris's decision to select Walz as her running mate for the upcoming election, calling it a "shocking pick." He praised Walz as a "smarter version" of Vice President Kamala Harris but criticized him for being "very liberal" and "weak on immigration." Trump also suggested that Walz's record on transgender issues would be a point of contention.
Trump's remarks included a swipe at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was also considered for the vice-presidential slot. Trump speculated that Shapiro's Jewish heritage was a factor in him being overlooked, saying, "I have very little doubt... it was because of the fact that he's Jewish, and they think they're going to offend somebody else."
The Harris campaign has not responded to these allegations. However, Harris noted that her choice of Walz was influenced by the chemistry they developed during the vetting process and his policy record, which includes legislation on abortion access, gun control, and voting rights.
The announcement of Walz as Harris's running mate has been met with enthusiasm from various Democratic figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.). The campaign reported a significant fundraising boost, raising over $20 million in the hours following the announcement.
Walz's selection has placed him in the national spotlight, with his recent comments about Trump and the Republicans contributing to his rising profile. In response, Trump's campaign labeled Walz a "West Coast wannabe," continuing the contentious rhetoric between the two camps.
