Trump blasts 'very weak' Mayor Jacob Frey on Twitter; next tweet about Minneapolis protest earns 'public interest' notice

President finishes late-night tweet blast with "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."

By Staff reports, Star Tribune

May 29, 2020 at 8:29AM
President Donald Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019.
President Donald Trump, shown at Target Center in Minneapolis in 2019, shared criticism of Mayor Jacob Frey via Twitter late Thursday night. (Tns - Tns/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

President Donald Trump blasted Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey just before midnight Thursday night on Twitter.

While protests continued in south Minneapolis and elsewhere late into the night, the president called Frey "very weak" and called protesters "thugs," among other lashings.

Trump's tweets came in two parts, starting with:

"I can't stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right. ..."

In an early Friday news conference, Frey responded by saying the president doesn't know the strength of Minneapolis and criticizing Trump's finger-pointing during a time of crisis. "Weakness is refusing to take responsibilty for your own actions," Frey said, later striking the lectern.

Trump's second tweet had a conclusion that is sure to cause debate among his supporters and antagonists into Friday at the end of a difficult week for Minnesota:

"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"

That tweet got the attention of Twitter, which has angered Trump in recent days for applying fact checks to two of his tweets and leading to an executive order that Trump signed on Thursday.

This time, Twitter said: "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible."

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Tap here to see Trump's tweets on Twitter.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey became emotional during a press conference as he provided an update on the City's response to fires and damage from last night's protests at City Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey became emotional during a press conference as he provided an update on the City’s response to fires and damage from last night’s protests at City Hall, Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
President Donald Trump told his 80 million Twitter followers what he thinks of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Staff reports, Star Tribune

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