Former President Donald J. Trump Falsely Claims Victory in Minnesota and Targets 2024 Campaign Strategy
Former President Donald J. Trump made bold claims during a speech in Minnesota on Friday night, falsely stating that he had won the state twice and declaring it in play for him in the 2024 election. Despite the fact that the last time a Republican presidential candidate won Minnesota was in 1972, Trump asserted that his campaign was expanding its electoral map to include the state.
Speaking at a fundraiser for the state’s Republican Party in St. Paul, Trump also emphasized his commitment to law and order, suggesting that he played a crucial role in quelling the riots in the state following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in 2020.
The former president’s appearance in Minnesota marked a departure from the usual campaign battlegrounds, as he continues to seek vengeance for his loss to Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the 2020 election. Trump’s campaign has been making efforts to expand its reach, with events planned in traditionally blue states like New Jersey and the Bronx.
Earlier in the day, Trump attended his youngest son Barron’s high school graduation in Florida, despite ongoing legal proceedings in New York. During his speech in St. Paul, Trump took aim at the judge presiding over his trial, falsely accusing him of denying his request to attend the graduation.
Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, criticized Trump for his false claims about winning the state in 2020, calling them “an affront to democracy.” Walz pointed out that Trump lost the state by over seven points and emphasized that Joe Biden came closer to winning Texas than Trump did to winning Minnesota.
On Saturday, Trump is set to headline the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Dallas, where he will address the group for the ninth time. Despite controversies surrounding gun restrictions, Trump has remained a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment.
As Trump continues to make waves in the political arena, his remarks in Minnesota have sparked debate and criticism from both supporters and detractors alike.
