Overview

• Pressed in the Oval Office, Trump initially said he was “not familiar” with Melissa Hortman before adding he would have ordered half-staff honors if a request had come from Minnesota’s governor.
• In June, Trump dismissed calling Walz after the shootings as a “waste of time,” calling the governor “whacked out” and “a mess,” according to remarks to reporters then.
• Walz’s office responded Monday night through spokesperson Claire Lancaster, saying the governor “wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans.”
• By contrast, Trump ordered flags lowered nationwide after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed last week and said he plans to attend the funeral in Arizona.
• Hortman and her husband were shot dead on June 14, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded; suspect Vance Boelter has been indicted, pleaded not guilty, and is due in court Nov. 25.