Former President Donald Trump reflected Wednesday morning on his “only” interaction with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Trump told “Fox and Friends” co-hosts in his first televised interview since Harris tapped Walz to join the ticket Tuesday that the Minnesota governor called him “very concerned” during the intersection of Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots and COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Trump expressed that he “can’t believe” Harris chose Walz.
“I know him a little bit,” Trump said. “I helped him very much during the riots because his house was surrounded by people that were waving an American flag. Doesn’t sound like very bad people. And he called me, and he was very concerned. Very, very concerned that it was going to get out of control.”
On April 17, 2020, dozens of protesters gathered outside Walz’s governor’s mansion in St. Paul for a second day, demanding he end Minnesota’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order, according to CBS News. The demonstrators, consisting of frustrated business owners holding signs and waving American flags, referred to themselves as “Liberate Minnesota.”
As a Minnesotan, I couldn’t be more proud to be out in front of the Governor’s Mansion today with all these great patriots!
This transcends politics, folks.
This is about making certain we keep our liberties!
It’s time to liberate Minnesota and #ReopenMN for business! pic.twitter.com/8AhAVCiL6b
— Jason Lewis (@LewisforMN) April 17, 2020
“If you’re going to protest, at least social distance.” – @GovTimWalz in response to “Liberate Minnesota” protestors outside Governor’s Mansion. @WCCO
— Marielle Mohs (@MarielleMohs) April 17, 2020
Walz issued multiple COVID-19 executive orders April 17, 2020, extending his emergency order for another month. While the Minnesota governor loosened restrictions on outdoor recreation, a six-foot distance was still required for those in separate households. Minnesotans who could “work at home” were required to continue.
Trump said Walz’s mansion only had “one guard” and that the Minnesota governor called him for help. Trump said the anti-lockdown protesters “left” after he “put out the word” about Walz. (RELATED: CNN’s Van Jones Suggests Kamala Harris Caved In To ‘Darker Parts’ Of Democratic Party With VP Pick)
“They only had one guard, I guess it was at the mansion or had his house in some form. And he called me, and I said, ‘What do you want me to do about it?’ I was in the White House. He said, ‘If you would put out the word that I’m a good person,’ and I did, I put out the word. I said, ‘he’s a good person. I hope everything’s good.’ And everybody put down their flags and took their flags with them. But they took the American flags and their MAGA flags and they left. It was thousands of people,” Trump said Wednesday on Fox News.
“And that was the first time I said, ‘Wow, that’s very interesting.’ And he called me back and he thanked me very much. That’s my only thing I ever had to do with him,” Trump continued. “He’s a very, very liberal man, and he’s a shocking pick. And I’m, I’m thrilled. I could not be more thrilled.”
In April 2020, similar anti-lockdown protests occurred in states including Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan, according to NBC News. Trump sent three tweets April 17, 2020, the same day Walz’s mansion was mobbed by demonstrators, saying, “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” and “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!”
LIBERATE MINNESOTA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
LIBERATE MICHIGAN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
At the time, Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee accused Trump of “fomenting domestic rebellion” and that he was “putting millions of people in danger of contracting COVID-19.” A Twitter spokesperson rebutted that claim, stating that Trump’s rhetoric was too vague and did not violate the website’s COVID-19 policies, NBC News noted at the time.
The president is fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies – even while his own administration says the virus is real, it is deadly and we have a long way to go before restrictions can be lifted. 2/7
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) April 17, 2020
On April 20, 2020, Trump tweeted that he “received a very nice call” from Walz and that his administration was working “fast” to help fulfill the Minnesota governor’s needs.
Received a very nice call from @GovTimWalz of Minnesota. We are working closely on getting him all he needs, and fast. Good things happening!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2020
The Star Tribune reported that Walz said Trump “expressed great desire to work with us” following their 10-minute phone call April 18, 2020. The Minnesota governor made clear his disinterest in “adjudicating why we don’t have these things now” and emphasized his interest “in how we get them.”