Democratic leaders are blaming President Donald Trump for allegedly fueling the political climate that led to the shocking assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker and the attempted murder of another over the weekend. The accused shooter, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was apprehended after a two-day manhunt, found hiding in the woods with a cache of weapons and a chilling manifesto listing dozens of political and public figures.
Boelter is accused of murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in Brooklyn Park. Prior to that, he allegedly shot State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in a separate attack. Authorities confirmed the shooter posed as a police officer and had a kill list that included the names of pro-abortion activists and healthcare workers. Hoffman survived and is recovering.
Despite the facts still emerging, prominent Democrats were quick to cast blame. Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio told MSNBC that Trump “gave the permission structure” for escalating political violence, connecting it to federal immigration enforcement and recent unrest in Los Angeles. While he condemned violent protests, de Blasio insisted Trump’s leadership fostered the environment for such attacks.
Senators Jeff Merkley and Chris Murphy echoed that sentiment. Merkley said Trump “popped the lid off of the rhetoric” and promoted hatred. Murphy posted on X that this wasn’t a “both sides” issue, arguing that MAGA has normalized violence. He claimed Boelter was influenced by Trump-aligned ideology.
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) added to the chorus on CNN, stating that “President Trump is the biggest problem here,” accusing him of degrading rhetoric and endorsing political violence through his pardons of January 6 offenders.
On “The View,” Ana Navarro didn’t hold back, accusing Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson of inflammatory statements, such as joking about arresting or tarring Governor Gavin Newsom over immigration enforcement disputes.
Yet not everyone agrees with that assessment. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson slammed the accusations as divisive and opportunistic. “Democrats are wrong to exploit this tragedy and blame President Trump,” she told Fox News Digital. Jackson pointed to a surge in assaults on ICE agents — up over 400% — which she attributed to Democrats’ hostile rhetoric against law enforcement.
She also noted that Trump himself has survived two assassination attempts and continues to promote national unity through “patriotism, prosperity, and success.” Jackson urged Democrats to stop “telling supporters they are ‘at war’ and encouraging them to fight ‘in the streets’ against President Trump.”
As details of the shooting and Boelter’s motivations unfold, the incident has already become another flashpoint in the nation’s tense political landscape. Democrats are pushing the narrative that MAGA-style extremism breeds violence, while Republicans are firing back that the left’s own rhetoric is inciting chaos and demonizing law enforcement.
With political tensions running high and violent incidents piling up, this tragedy in Minnesota may further inflame a deeply divided nation heading into another contentious election cycle. Whether it becomes a rallying cry for Democrats or a cautionary tale about media narratives remains to be seen.