Fact Check: "Sen. Mike Lee mocked a political assassination as 'what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.'"
What We Know
On June 17, 2025, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) made a controversial post on social media in response to the assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. In his post, Lee stated, "This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way" (CNN Transcripts). This statement was made shortly after a suspect, Vance Boelter, was arrested for the murders, which were part of a targeted attack against lawmakers in Minnesota (CNN anchor blasts GOP senator for 'juvenile' post).
Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) confronted Lee about his remarks, expressing outrage over the insensitivity and misinformation surrounding the tragic event. She highlighted that there was no evidence to suggest that the suspect had any Marxist affiliations, noting that the suspect's roommate claimed he supported Donald Trump (CNN Transcripts). Lee's comments were widely condemned, leading to significant backlash from various political figures and commentators (GOP senator deletes inflammatory social media posts about ...).
Analysis
The claim that Senator Mike Lee mocked a political assassination by stating "this is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way" is substantiated by multiple sources. His post was made in the context of a violent crime that resulted in the deaths of public officials, which raises serious ethical questions about the appropriateness of his comments.
Lee's assertion lacks a factual basis, as the suspect's political affiliations were not aligned with Marxist ideologies. This was pointed out by Senator Smith, who emphasized the need for accountability in the words of public officials, especially in the wake of such violence (CNN anchor blasts GOP senator for 'juvenile' post). The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident, including CNN and other reputable news outlets, lends credence to the accuracy of the claim. These sources have a track record of fact-checking and providing context in their reporting, making them reliable for this analysis.
Furthermore, Lee's subsequent deletion of the post indicates an acknowledgment of the backlash and potential misjudgment in his comments (GOP senator deletes inflammatory social media posts about ...). This action suggests that he recognized the inappropriateness of his remarks, further supporting the claim that his original statement was indeed mocking and insensitive.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. Senator Mike Lee did make a post mocking a political assassination by stating, "This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way." The context of his statement, combined with the lack of evidence supporting his claim about the suspect's political beliefs, confirms the accuracy of the assertion. His comments were widely criticized for being inflammatory and irresponsible, particularly in light of the tragic events that had just occurred.
