Trump says he backs exclusion of Minnesota from ICE shooting probe as Tim Walz is 'a stupid person’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, January 9, affirmed his support for the FBI’s decision to exclude Minnesota investigators from the inquiry into the fatal shooting involving an ICE agent. 

He argued that the state government cannot be trusted to participate because he believes Governor Tim Walz is “a stupid person.”

Trump rejects joint probe due to ‘crooked officials’ of Minnesota

During a meeting with top oil executives, Trump was questioned on whether the FBI should be working together with Minnesota officials as it is typically expected in such cases.

The POTUS rejected the idea of a joint investigation, citing his lack of trust in the state's leadership and pointing to recent fraud allegations involving daycare centers. 

"Normally, I wouldn’t, but they are crooked officials," said Trump. "Minneapolis and Minnesota, what a beautiful place, but it’s being destroyed. It has got an incompetent governor. Fool, I mean, he’s a stupid person," Trump added.

Trump calls Minnesota a 'very corrupt state'

Trump further expanded his criticism by alleging the massive financial misconduct and voter fraud within the state, specifically targeting the Somali community and the governor's alleged oversight. 

"It looks like the number could be $19 billion stolen from a lot of people. But largely people from Somalia. They buy their votes, they vote in a group. They sell more Mercedes-Benz is in that area than almost — can you imagine you come over with no money and shortly thereafter you are driving a Mercedes-Benz? The whole thing is ridiculous. They are very corrupt people. It is a very corrupt state," the president claimed.

Trump further insisted, “It’s a corrupt voting system with an incompetent governor, a very incompetent governor. And by the way, he’s a very corrupt governor, too.”

JD Vance claims ICE shooting is a federal issue

It is to be noted that the situation began after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Usually, state and federal groups work together, but the FBI blocked state investigators from seeing the evidence. 

Vice President JD Vance, while addressing media, explained that because the shooter was a federal officer, the state has no say.

"The precedent is very simple: You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action — that’s a federal issue," said Vance. "He is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job."

Tim Walz demands 'Minnesota must be part of this investigation' 

In response to the federal blockade, Governor Walz, who recently announced he won't be seeking reelection, has remained firm in his demand for state involvement.

He denounced the FBI's lack of transparency and insisted that local oversight is necessary for a fair outcome. 

"Minnesota must be part of this investigation," Walz declared during a press conference in St Paul.