Trump repost amplifying Hortman assassination conspiracy draws family backlash
President Trump reposted a Truth Social video promoting conspiracy theories about the killing of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman, prompting her children to publicly ask him to remove it and drawing condemnation from state political leaders. The video falsely alleges Gov. Tim Walz’s involvement—pointing to suspect Vance Boelter’s service on a Walz‑era state panel—and claims Hortman knew of a fraud scheme that surfaced months after her death; authorities say Boelter trafficked in conspiracies, wrote to the FBI alleging a plot involving Walz and Senate seats and has pleaded not guilty, while prosecutors have separately accused dozens, mostly from the Somali diaspora, in a large fraud probe that led Walz to end his reelection bid.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Melissa Hortman’s children publicly asked President Trump to remove his Truth Social repost that promotes a conspiracy theory about their parents’ killing.
- The reposted video makes unsubstantiated claims linking Gov. Tim Walz to the killings, citing that suspect Vance Boelter served on a Walz‑era state panel.
- The video also falsely alleges Hortman knew of a Minnesota fraud scheme that only came to light months after her death.
- Authorities say Vance Boelter trafficked in conspiracies, wrote to the FBI claiming the shootings were part of a plot involving Walz and Senate seats, and has pleaded not guilty.
- Prosecutors have accused dozens — mostly from the Somali diaspora — in a large‑scale fraud tied to Minnesota programs under Walz; the widening scandal has led Walz to end his reelection bid.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 107,000 people of Somali descent representing about 2% of the state's total population of around 5.7 million as of 2024.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to census data — KTTC
Somali refugees began resettling in Minnesota in the early 1990s following the Somali Civil War, facilitated by federal refugee programs and voluntary agencies such as Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities, attracted by job opportunities, generous welfare benefits, and existing community networks.
How did MN get the nation's largest Somali population? — Star Tribune
More than half (52%) of children in Somali immigrant households in Minnesota live in poverty, compared to 8% of children in native-born households, with Somali-headed households showing high welfare usage rates, such as 89% of those with children receiving public assistance.
Somali Immigrants in Minnesota — Center for Immigration Studies
In the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme alone, at least 78 defendants have been charged as of November 2025, with the majority being members of the Somali diaspora, despite Somalis comprising only about 2% of Minnesota's population.
78th Defendant Charged in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme — U.S. Department of Justice
Somali immigrants in Minnesota face language barriers, with a significant portion speaking Somali at home and limited English proficiency, contributing to challenges in education and employment, where 41% lack a high school diploma compared to lower rates in the general population.
Somali population - Cultural communities — Minnesota Compass
đź“° Sources (2)
- Melissa Hortman’s children have publicly asked President Trump to remove his Truth Social repost that promotes a conspiracy theory about their parents’ killing.
- The article details the false claims in the reposted video, including an unsubstantiated allegation that Gov. Tim Walz was involved because suspect Vance Boelter served on a Walz‑era state panel.
- Authorities’ account is reiterated that Boelter himself trafficked in conspiracies and wrote to the FBI claiming the shootings were part of a plot involving Walz and Senate seats, and that he has pleaded not guilty.
- The video also falsely claims Hortman knew of a Minnesota fraud scheme that only came to light months after her death.
- Context is added that prosecutors have accused dozens of mostly Somali‑diaspora defendants of large‑scale fraud in Minnesota programs under Walz, and that Walz has since ended his reelection bid citing the widening scandal.