President Trump visited Minnesota today as part of a push to counter Joe Biden’s campaign efforts in the state.
The president spoke to victims of the riots that rocked the state after the death of George Floyd, Breitbart reports. John Wolf, owner of a liquor store in Minneapolis told the story of how his business was targeted multiple times over the period of unrest, resulting in a million dollars in damages and lost merchandise.
Wolf stated that he called police 10 times as rioters vandalized and looted his building, but no one came.
“The feeling of helplessness that I had knowing that no one was coming was indescribable,” Wolf told the president. Wolf went on to say that “there’s nothing more important for elected officials than providing safety to residents and businesses. Without that, nothing works… I held up to my end. The city of Minneapolis didn’t.”
Other attendees of the event included Korboi Balla, a firefighter who spent his life savings to build a sports bar, only for it to be destroyed in the riots. President Trump asked for the name of the bar and said that it might be possible to get help for the Balla’s rebuilding efforts.
The promise to aid wherever possible was not restricted to Balla. To all assembled, Trump had this to say: “We’re going to see what we can do for you. We’ll help you out a little bit, and you may be surprised… We’ll get you going.”
President Trump has been critical of Minneapolis’s response to the riots, taking to Twitter to condemn how long it took for the city to call on the National Guard.
Getting ready to land in Minneapolis. Our great National Guard saved the city from further destruction. Should have been called up sooner by local government!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2020
The Twitter post is part of a trend of criticisms from the president regarding the response to rioting in “Democrat-controlled cities.” In a press release last week, the president said, “The mayors and governors of these states and cities have an absolute duty to use all resources necessary to end the violence and all of the injury and death.”
President Trump also spoke at a campaign rally in Manako, Minnesota. Trump thanked Republican legislators and candidates and was optimistic about the outcome of the election. The president said “We’re going to win this state,” and “When we win Minnesota, it’s over.”
President Trump stressed the urgency of the election calling it the most important in American history, and calling his opponent a “puppet of left-wing extremists” whom he also called “fascists.”
The president criticized Joe Biden, stating that his election would lead to Americans having to pay double and triple the current tax rate, an economic crisis, crime, and collapse.
For undecided voters, the president had this question: “If left-wing Democrats can’t run a city, why on earth would you let them run your country?”
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Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Minnesota Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected].
