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Trump lies about National Guard response to 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Walz did send troops to quell the riots, but his slow response drew criticism. Trump lied about Walz's actions.

Published August 9, 2024 at 1:55pm by

Donald Trump misstates facts about National Guard deployment in Minnesota

Statement: "I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis." -- Former President Donald Trump

During a recent rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Trump falsely claimed credit for deploying the National Guard to Minneapolis following George Floyd's murder in 2020.

"I couldn't get your governor to act...So, I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis," Trump said, referring to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Fact-check:

CNN and WCCO-TV News, a CBS affiliate in Minnesota, previously debunked this claim in 2020.

Timeline of Events:

George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020, sparking widespread protests and civil unrest.
On May 27, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested National Guard assistance from Gov. Walz.
At 4:04 p.m. CST on May 28, Gov. Walz issued an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard to support emergency operations.
At 4:13 p.m., the Minnesota National Guard confirmed on social media that they were "ready and prepared to answer the Governor's request."
On the night of May 28, the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd Precinct was overrun and set on fire by rioters.
At 10:30 p.m., President Trump called Gov. Walz and offered to send in the military.
At 10:41 p.m., the Minnesota National Guard announced on social media that they had activated over 500 soldiers for St. Paul, Minneapolis, and surrounding areas.
On May 29, Gov. Walz told reporters that Trump had offered support, but he (Walz) had decided to assume control of the situation.

Responses:

Gov. Walz's spokesperson, Teddy Tschann, told CNN in 2020 that Walz activated the National Guard at the request of the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, before speaking to the White House. Tschann added that Walz was in touch with Trump administration officials like Defense Secretary Mark Esper during the unrest.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) spokesperson, Anna Kelly, pointed to criticism of Gov. Walz's response, including from Minnesota Republicans and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey told the Star Tribune that Walz hesitated to deploy the National Guard when initially requested on May 27. However, Gov. Walz's office disputed this claim.

A 2022 review by Wilder Research found that the timeliness of the National Guard's activation could have been improved and highlighted the need for better communication and coordination with local jurisdictions.

Insurrection Act:

Generally, the U.S. military cannot be used for law enforcement activities within the U.S., due to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. However, there are exceptions, such as the Insurrection Act of 1807, which allows states to request federal military assistance and gives the president limited authority to deploy the military without a state's consent.

Rating:

Trump's statement is false. Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard on May 28, before Trump offered federal assistance later that night. While there was criticism of the timing of Walz's decision, the deployment and coordination of the National Guard are ultimately the governor's responsibility.