President Donald Trump has left the building, but Minnesotans are still reacting to and recovering from Thursday night’s riotous events in downtown Minneapolis.
The president spoke to a crowd of roughly 20,000 at the Target Center in a 102-minute, off-script speech that has gone down as the second-longest address of his presidency to date. By Friday morning, it was clear to everyone that President Trump is serious about winning Minnesota in 2020.
A number of Minnesota lawmakers offered their reactions to the president’s speech late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Many of them were called out by the president by name during the rally.
“Donald Trump is off the rails. We will stop this man,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a 2020 Democratic candidate, tweeted during the rally. She was particularly bothered by President Trump’s comments about refugee resettlement in Minnesota.
Donald Trump is off the rails. We will stop this man.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) October 11, 2019
“The President just attacked Somali American in his rally in Minnesota. Immigrants and refugees have helped make our state a wonderful place to live and work—which is far more than this president has done. Stop using immigrants and refugees as political pawns,” the senator said.
The President just attacked Somali Americans in his rally in Minnesota. Immigrants and refugees have helped make our state a wonderful place to live and work — which is far more than this President has done. Stop using immigrants and refugees as political pawns!
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) October 11, 2019
Klobuchar’s presidential campaign sent out a fundraising appeal after the president’s rally concluded.
“Trump just left the stage of his Minneapolis rally. He’s now finally on his way out of Minnesota—and if we have anything to say about it, he’ll be out of the White House soon too,” the email stated. “We need to send a clear message to Trump and his hateful agenda: Amy will beat you in every place, every race, every time.”
Sen. Tina Smith’s Republican opponent, Jason Lewis, received an endorsement from the president during his speech while Smith was accused of not doing “a damn thing” in the Senate.
“Here’s just a few of the ‘damn things’ I’ve done in the Senate, Donald Trump: expanded resources for career and technical education, increased funding for states and tribes to address opioid crisis, helped write and pass bipartisan farm bill,” she wrote on Twitter.
Here's just a few of the "damn things" I've done in the Senate, @realdonaldtrump:
✅Expanded resources for career & technical education
✅Increased funding for states & tribes to address opioid crisis
✅Helped write & pass bipartisan Farm Bill https://t.co/iWkcHb1SzA— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) October 11, 2019
“Should I go on?” she continued, providing an additional list of her accomplishments in the Senate.
“Trump’s rally has finished and it’s never been more clear: he and the rest of the GOP are doing absolutely everything they can to turn Minnesota red,” she said after the rally concluded. “With this attention on Minnesota, we need to get to work building a campaign that’s ready to fight back.”
Trump’s rally has finished and it’s never been more clear: He and the rest of the GOP are doing absolutely everything they can to turn MN red. With this attention on MN, we need to get to work building a campaign that’s ready to fight back. Chip in now: https://t.co/dOnuXqdnTw
— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) October 11, 2019
Vice President Mike Pence visited Lakeville prior to speaking at the rally. The city is located in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District and Pence’s visit was considered a clear effort to help flip the seat red.
“I’d like to welcome the Vice President to the Second District today,” Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02) said on Twitter. “I hope that he and the President will spend time with small business owners and family farmers who have been negatively affected by tariffs and small refinery waivers.”
I’d like to welcome the Vice President to the Second District today. I hope that he and the President will spend time with small business owners and family farmers who have been negatively affected by tariffs and small refinery waivers. https://t.co/gq0vduvD8B
— Angie Craig (@AngieCraigMN) October 10, 2019
“Across our district, hardworking Minnesotans are seeing their way of life slipping away. It’s time to end the trade war and work to open new markets to trade,” Craig continued. “I stand ready to work with the administration to lower the price of health care and prescription drugs and to work together to build a transportation and infrastructure plan for the 21st Century.”
Attorney General Keith Ellison posted a 13-tweet thread ahead of President Trump’s visit.
“People focus a lot on what President Trump says, especially with him in Minnesota today. I get that. But in my job, I also have to stay focused on what the Trump Administration is doing,” said Ellison. “That’s because the Trump Administration—not just Trump, but the departments and agencies under him—is actually doing a lot to make it harder for you to afford your life and live with dignity and respect.”
1/ My job as MN Attorney General is to help people afford their lives and live with dignity & respect. People focus a lot on what Pres Trump says, especially with him in MN today. I get that. But in my job, I also have to stay focused on what the Trump Administration is *doing.*
— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) October 10, 2019
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), who was called a “disgrace” by President Trump, accused the president of shouting “xenophobic conspiracy theories” about her during his speech.
“He scolded my district for voting for me. His hate is no match for our movement,” she added.
At his rally just now, Trump called me an “America-hating socialist” and a “disgrace.” He shouted xenophobic conspiracy theories about me. He scolded my district for voting for me.
His hate is no match for our movement. Stand with me by donating now: https://t.co/QdUrT9zJsr pic.twitter.com/Ik8I9zlRTf
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 11, 2019
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was called “lousy” and “rotten” by the president, though Frey said he wasn’t surprised by Trump’s comments in a post-rally interview with The Star Tribune.
“The fact that he doesn’t think I’m a good mayor doesn’t surprise me in the least,” said Frey. “As far as his speech goes, I said that his message of hatred wasn’t welcome in Minnesota, and this is exactly what I was talking about.”
Ken Martin, chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party, released an 11-paragraph statement to the media after the president’s rally.
“Tonight, we witnessed a President of the United States who, instead of finding ways to bring this country together during a time of unprecedented unease and anxiety, has doubled down on his politics of destruction,” said Martin. “Donald Trump was demeaning political rivals, attacking the media, and engaging in gross vulgarity and immaturity that would make my two teenage sons look like reasoned adults.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Donald Trump” by Photo “Donald Trump” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. CC BY 2.0. Background Photo “Minnesota Trump Rally” by Donald Trump.
