Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz is facing backlash after remarks at a recent rally that some interpreted as hoping for President Trump’s death. Speaking to a friendly crowd, Walz joked about recent rumors regarding Trump’s health, saying, “You get up in the morning and you doom-scroll through things,” and added, “You woke up the last few days thinking there might be news! Just saying! There will be news, sometime!” His comments drew laughter but sparked criticism on social media.

The governor’s remarks came amid ongoing speculation about Trump’s health. The former president addressed the rumors with a public golf outing and hinted at a “major” White House announcement. Critics on social media compared Walz’s rhetoric to that of Robin Westman, the 23-year-old transgender suspect who killed two children at a Minneapolis Catholic church last week. Westman’s weapons reportedly had “Kill Trump” scrawled on them, raising concerns about violent political discourse.

Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar attended a Labor Day picnic where protesters voiced strong anti-Trump sentiments. The day after the rally, Walz announced he was considering a special legislative session to push new gun-control measures in response to recent violence in the state.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Catholic bishops had previously urged state officials to provide security funding for non-public schools following deadly shootings elsewhere. Their appeals sought to ensure that Catholic and other private schools receive similar protections as public schools.

Despite these warnings, and a record \$17.6 billion state budget surplus in 2023, Walz and Democratic lawmakers did not allocate resources to address school security concerns. This decision has drawn criticism from faith leaders and community members alike.

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