Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing renewed scrutiny over his handling of the 2020 protests in Minneapolis following his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. Critics are accusing Walz of a delay in calling in the National Guard during the protests that erupted in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Former President Donald Trump and Republicans have been vocal in their criticism of Walz, claiming that his alleged inaction allowed the situation to escalate. However, Trump also acknowledged Walz's handling of the situation. The controversy surrounding Walz's response has quickly become a key argument against the Democratic presidential ticket.

Just hours after Harris announced Walz as her running mate, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance accused Walz of passively supporting the rioters as Minneapolis "burned" during the May 2020 protests. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC echoed this criticism. Trump himself falsely claimed that it was he, not Walz, who called in the National Guard. However, Walz and the Minneapolis mayor have engaged in a blame game, with Republicans also holding both accountable in a later investigation.

The protests erupted in Minneapolis and St. Paul in the days following George Floyd's death while in police custody on May 25, 2020. The demonstrations quickly turned violent, leading to widespread destruction, looting, and arson. Republicans pointed to what they deemed as a three-day delay in Walz's decision to deploy the National Guard, placing the blame on him for not responding more promptly and assertively. These criticisms resurfaced as Walz rose on Harris' running mate shortlist.

A report by state Senate Republicans in Minnesota in October 2020 accused Walz of failure to use force and law enforcement to quell the violence. It claimed that Walz's reluctance stemmed from a philosophical debate on the use of force to combat unrest. However, Walz's office clarified that he activated the National Guard in response to official requests from the Democratic-led cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The activation occurred before Walz spoke to the White House.

Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis stated that he called Walz on the evening of May 27, after learning about the looting of a Target store, to formally request National Guard assistance. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Walz's office regarding the deployment at that time. Frey's office followed up with a written request the next morning, and a similar letter was sent by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. Disputes arose over whether a verbal request constituted a formal one, while federal regulations did not provide explicit clarity on the matter.

Walz eventually activated the Minnesota National Guard in the afternoon of May 28, following a news release from his office. The unit responded to the request for assistance, and that night, Trump publicly stated that he would mobilize the National Guard. Trump commended Walz's decision to use the military in a subsequent telephone call with governors. However, it took until May 30 for Walz to order the entire Minnesota National Guard into Minneapolis to restore order. By the time the violence was contained, a police precinct had been burned down, and the estimated damages across the Twin Cities were around $500 million.

The report assembled by state Senate Republicans pointed fingers at both Walz and Frey for the slow response. Allies of Walz, including Minnesota Democrats, have argued that blaming him alone overlooks Trump's social media posts, which they believed inflamed the situation further. They emphasized that Walz faced a complex balancing act between ensuring safety and respecting protesters' First Amendment rights. Walz himself acknowledged the situation as an "abject failure" but defended his actions, stating that he did the best he could under the circumstances.

As Walz assumes his new role alongside Vice President Harris, the criticism and debate surrounding his response to the protests in Minneapolis are likely to remain at the forefront of political discourse.