Fact Check: Former President Joe Biden called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz 'right away' on Saturday, September 30, 2023, after the assassination of House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman.

Fact Check: Did Joe Biden Call Tim Walz After the Assassination of Melissa Hortman?

What We Know

On September 30, 2023, Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in what has been described as a politically motivated assassination. The suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, is currently being sought by law enforcement (BBC). Following the incident, there were reports that former President Joe Biden called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz "right away" to discuss the situation (Yahoo).

However, other sources indicate that while Biden did express concern and condemnation regarding the violence, there is no definitive confirmation that he made a direct call to Walz immediately after the incident. In fact, a source close to Walz mentioned that former President Donald Trump stated he "may" call Walz, but there was no confirmation of such a call occurring (The Pulse of NH).

Analysis

The claim that Biden called Walz "right away" is based on a single source that lacks corroboration from other reliable outlets. While the Yahoo article mentions the call, it does not provide direct evidence or quotes from Walz or Biden confirming the timing or nature of the call. The ambiguity surrounding the claim is further emphasized by the fact that reports from other outlets, including ABC News, do not mention Biden's call as an immediate action following the assassination (ABC News).

Moreover, the context of the situation indicates that both Biden and Trump were responding to a significant political event, which may have led to misinterpretations or exaggerations about the immediacy of their communications with Walz. The lack of direct quotes or statements from either Biden or Walz regarding the call raises questions about the reliability of the initial claim.

Conclusion

The claim that former President Joe Biden called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz "right away" after the assassination of Melissa Hortman is False. While there are reports of Biden expressing concern about the violence, there is no concrete evidence to support the assertion that he made an immediate call to Walz following the incident. The ambiguity and lack of corroborating sources suggest that this claim may be more speculative than factual.

Sources

1. Minnesota shootings: Police name suspect
2. Minnesota House Democratic leader dead after 'politically motivated assassination'
3. Minnesota Democratic leader dead after 'politically motivated assassination'
4. Biden warns against politically motivated violence after ...
5. Trump says he 'may' call Walz after Minnesota shootings ...
6. Search continues for Vance Boelter in shooting of 2 ...
7. Flood of tributes for Minnesota Democrat killed in 'targeted ...
8. Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman killed, State Sen. ...