Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took a shot at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for how he handled the 2020 riots in his state. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press)
Walz was first elected governor of Minnesota in 2019, leading the state as protests broke out after the death of Black man George Floyd at the hands of a White police officer in 2020. While Walz has said he takes the blame for a delayed response activating the National Guard in his state, he has also said he is proud of how Minnesota reacted.
"I’m proud of Minnesota’s response. I’m proud of Minnesota’s first responders who were out there, from firefighters to police to the National Guard to citizens that were out there," Walz said in a 2022 gubernatorial debate.
Walz’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS SLAM DEMOCRATS FOR 'DANGEROUS' RHETORIC AS ICE AGENTS FACE VIOLENT MOBS IN LA, NYC
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, has said most of the troops "are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders." (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Additionally, Newsom argued that the move violates state sovereignty because state governors typically oversee National Guard troops. However, Trump invoked a law to place the troops under federal command to bypass Newsom.
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"This isn’t about public safety," Newsom said in a post on X on Monday. "It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-takes-aim-tim-walz-letting-his-city-burn-2020-she-justifies-trumps-la-riot-response