Trump shares claim on Melissa Hortman’s death, draws criticism from lawmakers and family

WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump is facing sharp criticism in Minnesota for resharing a social media video that promotes conspiracy theories about the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.

The video, shared on his platform Truth Social, falsely alleges that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was behind Hortman’s death, a claim widely rejected by officials and the victim’s family.

Trump's post and Hortman assassination claims

Trump reshared a video claiming that the suspect believed to be responsible for the June 14, 2025, shootings stated in a letter that Walz ordered him to attack Hortman. The video implies a connection between Walz and the attacks, but prosecutors have identified the letter as a “delusion” likely intended to obscure the suspect’s crimes. 

Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and later died inside their Brooklyn Park home on June 14, 2025, along with their dog, Gilbert. About 90 minutes before that incident, State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot and wounded in Champlin.

Vance Boelter, 58, has been federally charged with two counts of murder and other offenses related to the shootings. Authorities said Boelter reportedly disguised himself as a police officer and remained at large for 40 hours. Prosecutors allege he maintained a list of lawmakers and other public officials, including Planned Parenthood staff, as potential targets. In August, he entered a plea of not guilty.

Lawmakers and Hortman family respond to Trump

Gov. Tim Walz reacted to Trump’s post, calling it "dangerous, depraved behavior from the sitting president of the United States." He added, "In covering for an actual serial killer, he is going to get more innocent people killed. America is better than this."

On Sunday, Hortman’s children, Sophie and Colin, publicly requested that Trump remove the post, saying it spreads a "false narrative." Sophie described the video as "another hurdle our family must overcome in grieving the loss of my parents, Mark and Melissa, and their beloved Gilbert." She urged Trump to "consider the pain and sadness we have faced and honor the spirit of the holidays we have just spent without our parents by taking down the post on Truth Social."

Colin refuted a claim in the video that Melissa Hortman had voted against her conscience on a tied House measure affecting undocumented immigrant adults’ healthcare, noting it was "emotional and extremely difficult." House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson criticized Trump, calling the claims "untruthful" and "outrageous." Republican State Sen. Julia Coleman also urged lawmakers to "call for an end to baseless conspiracy theories" following Trump’s post.