Walz critical of Trump, MN GOP while fielding questions on election change-of-heart

MINNEAPOLIS — Gov. Tim Walz was highly critical of President Donald Trump and Minnesota Republicans during a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 6, as he took questions about his decision to exit the 2026 race for a third term in office.

Walz told reporters his decision was the right one, and one he made with his family as a "war is being waged against Minnesota" by the federal government. He evaded a question about whether other state DFLers urged him to suspend his campaign.

The state is facing increasing pressure from multiple fronts, including Tuesday’s announcement of 2,000 federal agents apparently being sent to the state for immigration enforcement and fraud investigations.

Walz is being heavily scrutinized for his handling of fraud in state-run health and human services programs. But he said the focus on Minnesota is endangering livelihoods and even lives.

"This is a concerted effort to try and destroy the president's opponents, to destroy the rule of law. And it became apparent to me that he was going to do that with me being there," Walz said.

"And I just feel, along with my family, that it's the best decision for Minnesota, and I feel very confident in that. I think it's going to be clear that Minnesotans agree with that."

Walz was especially heated when it came to Trump amplifying a conspiracy theory that the governor was somehow involved in the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark last June.

He called on the state’s Republicans to condemn the president’s social media post.

"For those legislators who went and shed crocodile tears at her funeral, shame on you. Shame on you," Walz said. "Her children are asking you to do one thing in her name. It’s to tell the president to stop doing this."

Walz also said he will not resign because of the fraud cases, as some have called him to do, and that Republicans will not win the governor’s race.

"[The] buck stops with me. I'm accountable for this. And because of that accountability, I'm not running for office again," Walz said. "But I have a year to continue to improve on a record that I think will stand up against anybody's."

The intention of the news conference was to celebrate the launch of the state’s paid leave program on Jan. 1. Walz was flanked by business owners, state legislators and other state officials, including Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek.

The governor said the program will be looked at by other states as a model.

"It is an absolute travesty that there are states in this country that don't have the capacity to pay family medical leave. So I would tell all of those states out there and all of those folks, look to Minnesota," Walz said.

Walz also told reporters the program is launching on time, under budget and with strong safeguards in place to prevent fraud. He said anyone attempting to get paid family leave who isn't entitled to it will be prosecuted.

Varilek explained the verifications required when applying.

"You have to verify your identity on the front end, typically with a selfie and your driver's license. We need verification of any claim of the need for leave," Varilek said.

"And so if it's for welcoming a baby, we need to have documentation verifying that. Or if it's for a medical condition, we need to have documentation from a legitimate medical provider.

So those, and then other cross checks that we can do regarding payroll data, etc. — that's how we help to ensure integrity."

Nearly 18,000 Minnesotans have applied for the program, and to date, about 3,500 have been approved.