While President Donald Trump grapples with a growing crisis in the Middle East, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin is telling him to “f— off.”
In a profanity-laced post on X, Martin called Trump a “small, petty, insecure man” and ridiculed him for not calling Gov. Tim Walz after the political assassinations in Minnesota—something Walz himself brushed off.
As Alpha News previously reported, Walz shrugged off Trump’s decision not to call, saying: “I think I understand where that’s at.”
Walz did, however, thank Vice President JD Vance for ensuring the FBI got involved in the manhunt for Vance Boelter.
Guess what, @realDonaldTrump, you're a small, petty, insecure man and no one cares if you call them or not. Your words ring hollow and no one believes anything you say – so you're right why waste the Governors time calling him, the last thing he needs is your fake sympathy.… https://t.co/LrJtGgGnR9
— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) June 17, 2025
Martin’s online outburst was triggered by Trump’s remarks earlier this week aboard Air Force One, where he told reporters he would not be calling “whacked out” Walz following the assassination of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shootings of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Report: Martin’s DNC in financial toil
Martin’s statements come as the DNC faces mounting financial troubles and growing scrutiny over his leadership.
On Wednesday, The New York Times ran a headline reading, “The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash.”
“Under its new leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee has been plagued by infighting and a drop in big donations, raising alarms from Democrats as they try to win back power,” the Times reported.
Martin, a longtime Minnesota political figure, took the helm of the DNC in February. Since then, fundraising from major donors has reportedly declined, according to the Times.
The situation has grown so dire that some senior Democrats have privately discussed the possibility of taking out loans just to keep the DNC financially afloat, the Times noted.
An anonymous DNC member told Politico they view Martin as “weak and whiny.” Another described him as “invisible,” saying his early tenure has been “disappointing,” according to a report in the Daily Caller.
DFL chair accuses conservatives of ‘disinformation’
Martin began posting on X hours after the shootings, accusing conservatives of exploiting the tragedy and spreading false narratives, writing: “We’re seeing a wave of disgusting rhetoric and false claims coming from the far-right about the Minnesota shooting. As real families grieve the loss of loved ones, rightwing accounts are working overtime to circulate disinformation on social media.”
Martin later appeared on MSNBC and seemed to place the blame for the shootings squarely on the right, stating: “We do see the extremism on the far right and we see this violent rhetoric coming from all quarters right now—that legislators can’t do their jobs without fearing for their own lives for God’s sake.”
“You know what? There is no doubt that it has been fomented by the far right in this country,” Martin continued.
My family—and our entire @MinnesotaDFL community—was devastated to learn of the targeted, senseless murders of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, along with the attack on Senator John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman.
This political violence must end. pic.twitter.com/ou9zzHezFF
— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) June 15, 2025
State senator shares post comparing Boelter text to Republican rhetoric
Democratic Minnesota Sen. Erin Maye Quade reposted a screenshot of a message sent by Boelter to family members that read, “Dad went to war last night.”
The post was shared alongside a 2023 video of Republican Rep. Walter Hudson saying, “This is war.”
In another post, Quade appeared to suggest that political rhetoric from Trump is inspiring violence, questioning whether it’s time to address “where people are getting the idea to make hit lists of Democratic lawmakers.”
Sen. Mike Lee under fire for blaming the left
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee pointed the finger in the opposite direction, suggesting the suspect had ties to the political left.
In a since-deleted tweet, Lee wrote on X: “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way,” which drew swift backlash and calls for his resignation.
In another since-deleted tweet, Lee referred to the incident as a “Nightmare on Waltz Street”—a dig at Walz, given that Boelter was appointed by the governor in 2019 to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.
On Monday, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith confronted Lee in a hallway exchange captured on camera over his social media posts.
US Senator Mike Lee used his platform to inflict more pain on Minnesota.
Our Velvet Hammer, Senator Tina Smith, called it out. pic.twitter.com/cSRUO9Eaqy
— Erin Murphy (@epmurphymn) June 16, 2025
Smith later told reporters she approached Lee directly because his comments were “painful” and “brutal.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar told MSNBC that she too planned to give Lee an earful when she returned to Washington, D.C.
“I have condemned what Mike Lee did … and I will speak to him about this when I return,” said Klobuchar. “This is not a laughing matter, and certainly what we’re seeing is an increase in violence, and this evil man who did this—this is not a joke.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
