Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota delivered a fiery state of the state address that took direct aim at President Trump’s immigration policies. His remarks ignited a heated response from the White House, which quickly pointed to Walz’s handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots. Remember when Tim Walz’s wife claimed to keep their windows open during the riots to smell burning tires?
Walz Slams Trump’s Immigration Enforcement
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz used his state of the state address to deliver pointed criticism of President Trump’s immigration policies, focusing on what he characterized as violations of due process. He specifically referenced the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 gang member who was deported to El Salvador.
“In this land of the free and home of the brave, we have university students being swept up, shoved into unmarked vans, and fathers being tossed into Salvadorian gulags without a hint of due process,” Walz declared during his address. His remarks highlighted concerns about visa revocations for foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests, suggesting these actions contradict fundamental American values.
TIM WALZ: "We have fathers being tossed into Salvadorean gulags."
FACT CHECK: They are terrorists and woman beaters.
Even the crowd had to hit him with some boos. Get off the stage. Your career is over. pic.twitter.com/ygXS03OIHa
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 24, 2025
White House Fires Back with 2020 Riot Criticism
The White House’s response to Walz’s speech was immediate and pointed, focusing on his handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots following George Floyd’s murder. Critics from the Trump administration highlighted that Walz faced criticism for not quickly activating the National Guard as parts of Minneapolis experienced significant property damage and unrest.
Republican opponents, including JD Vance, have amplified this criticism by stating, “Because if we remember the rioting in the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the guy who let rioters burn down Minneapolis.” The characterization that Walz allowed Minneapolis to “burn” has been contested by fact-checkers who note that while his response had delays, he ultimately deployed over 700 state troopers and officers to assist with the situation.
Governor Tim Walz encouraged and supported the 2020 BLM riots which saw Minnesota on fire for months on end.
He ignited and presided over the destruction and chaos. pic.twitter.com/8dESCFChg9
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 6, 2024
Concerns Over Musk’s Proposed Government Cuts
During his address, Governor Walz also raised alarms about Elon Musk’s rumored plans to drastically cut government services if Trump returns to office. Walz warned that such cuts could threaten essential public assistance programs that millions of Americans depend on for basic needs.
The Minnesota governor argued that the Trump administration’s policies have historically caused economic destabilization and harm to working-class citizens. His critique of Musk’s potential influence in a second Trump administration points to growing Democratic concerns about the tech billionaire’s increasing political involvement and his stated desire to reduce government spending and programs.