Trump claims he sent National Guard to Minneapolis during 2020 unrest while Harris sided with 'arsonists'

ST CLOUD, MINNESOTA: Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris, claiming he sent in the National Guard during the 2020 unrest in Minneapolis while the vice president sided with "arsonists and rioters," during a Minnesota rally on Saturday, July 27. 

The GOP nominee was referring to the riot that erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May 2020 as an aftermath of the police brutality that led to the murder of George Floyd.

Speaking to his supporters in St Cloud, Minnesota's Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, Trump accused Harris of helping out those who were jailed after participating in the unrest, as per a video shared by Fox News.

Donald Trump claims he sent the National Guard to Minneapolis during 2020 protests while ripping into Kamala Harris

Donald Trump said, "Every voter in Minnesota needs to know that when the violent mobs of anarchists and looters and Marxists came to burn down Minneapolis four years ago, remember me? I couldn't get your governor to act." 

Tim Walz, a Democrat, has served as the governor of Minnesota since 2019. 

The GOP presidential nominee argued that the governor was supposed to be the one to call in the National Guard or the army, but he did not do it. He claimed, "I couldn't get your governor. So I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis while Kamala Harris sided with the arsonist and rioter and raised money to bail out the criminals." 

However, it was Gov Walz, who called up the Guard, as per Minnesota Reformer. 

During her 2020 Democratic primary race, Harris backed a fundraiser set up to collect bail money for those who were jailed due to the protest.

At the time, she took to X (formerly Twitter) to urge for donations, writing, "If you're able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota," as per Fox News.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund is a nonprofit organization that focuses on posting bail for individuals facing criminal trials or immigration hearings.

Following the George Floyd protests in 2020, the organization bailed out protesters who were arrested. However, there has been no indication of Harris' direct involvement beyond that tweet.

Internet fact-checks Donald Trump's claims about the 2020 Minneapolis protests

Netizens slammed Donald Trump over the remarks on his role in suppressing the 2020 protests in Minneapolis, particularly his claim of sending the National Guard.

One wrote, "A lie.. the governor, sent troops in before Trump ever Said to.. Trump can't stop lying." 

Another pointed out, "FACT CHECK: This is a false statement and an outright lie. The president can only send in National Guard if he federalizes them which Trump did not do. The governor of Minnesota a Democrat sent the National Guard in to Minneapolis to restore order." 

"Trump did not send in the National Guard. Trump has zero authority to deploy the Guard anywhere other than DC. Trump is a liar," said a person. 

"At every BLM protest, starting in Minneapolis, that turned violent, right-wing agitators were directly involved. VP Harris never raised money to bail any criminal offenders out of jail. Next lie to debunk?" remarked someone else. 

"So another bulls**t Trump lie. Presidents don't have the power to call in the National Guard only governors do. He's nothing but a demented old fraud," noted an individual. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.