The political landscape in Minnesota has been rocked by a swirl of conspiracy theories after the tragic murder of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband last June. Now, those falsehoods have reached the highest levels of national politics, as President Donald Trump has come under fire for amplifying baseless claims about the case, drawing swift condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum and reigniting concerns about the dangers of misinformation in American public life.
On January 4, 2026, President Trump shared a post and accompanying video on his Truth Social platform that promoted unsubstantiated conspiracy theories tying the June 14, 2025, slaying of Melissa Hortman to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and alleged fraud in state programs. According to Axios, the video’s unnamed narrator claimed, without citing any credible evidence, that Governor Walz had directed the accused killer, Vance Boelter, to assassinate Hortman because she voted against what the narrator described as “a multibillion-dollar money laundering fraud.” This accusation referenced a years-long welfare fraud investigation involving day care centers in Minnesota, which has been a point of contention in state politics and fodder for right-wing influencers.
But the facts tell a different story. Authorities have found no evidence connecting Governor Walz, any fraud scheme, or any vote Hortman took to the murder. In reality, the bill at the center of the conspiracy claims was a measure passed in June 2025 that restricted access to the state’s health care benefits program for undocumented immigrants over the age of 18. Hortman did cross party lines to vote with Republicans in favor of the bill, but Governor Walz ultimately signed the measure into law. As The Washington Post reports, this bill was not linked to any of the fraud allegations being investigated, where prosecutors say scammers stole from safety net programs for day care services they never provided.
Vance Boelter, the man charged with killing Hortman and her husband, has been indicted on federal murder charges. Authorities say Boelter impersonated a police officer to carry out the attack and had compiled a target list including other elected Democrats and abortion rights supporters. Prosecutors have described a letter Boelter wrote to the FBI before his capture as containing delusional claims implicating Walz, but have firmly discredited those assertions. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson called the writings "delusional" and noted that the letter also included falsehoods about the suspect's own background.
Boelter, who pleaded not guilty, has claimed to reporters that his actions were connected to his own “investigation” into COVID-19 vaccine safety. For the record, Boelter’s only known connection to Minnesota politics was his reappointment by Walz in 2019 to a 60-member Governor’s Workforce Development Board, an unpaid advisory group with dozens of members. According to state forms, Boelter listed his political affiliation as “none or other” and had once registered as a Republican in Oklahoma. There is no indication of any personal relationship between Boelter and Governor Walz.
Governor Walz, who considered Hortman a friend and political ally, responded swiftly and forcefully to Trump’s amplification of the conspiracy theories. On January 4, 2026, Walz posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the president’s behavior “dangerous, depraved behavior from the sitting president of the United States.” He went on to warn, “In covering for an actual serial killer, he is going to get more innocent people killed.” Walz’s remarks underscored the seriousness with which state leaders view the threat of misinformation fueling further violence. “America is better than this,” he added.
Other Minnesota Democrats echoed Walz’s outrage. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy labeled the post “soulless,” arguing that such lies “put people in danger and fan the flames of political violence.” House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson called on Republicans to join in condemning what he described as “outrageous lies” about the murder of his friend and mentor.
Yet it was not only Democrats who voiced alarm. Several current and former Republican legislators, including state Senator Julia Coleman and former Representative Pat Garofalo, publicly pushed back against the false posts and called for a de-escalation of heated political rhetoric. According to The Washington Post, Senator Coleman stated, “The American people, grieving families, and the legacies of those lost deserve far better than the spread of false, harmful conspiracies.” She continued, “When leaders across the country—from state senators like me to voices in every corner—repeatedly call for an end to baseless conspiracy theories, it’s a powerful signal: We must all reject this behavior outright and refuse to tolerate it. Debate policies fiercely. Fight for what you believe in. But do not speculate, guess, or spread stories that are plainly false and deeply harmful.”
The White House, for its part, did not respond to requests for comment on the president’s posts, according to Axios and The Washington Post.
The pain caused by the spread of these conspiracy theories has been deeply felt by the family of the victims. Hortman’s adult children, Colin and Sophie, released a statement on January 4 and 5, 2026, asking President Trump to remove the post. “My father and mother, Mark and Melissa Hortman, and their dog Gilbert, were killed by a man who believed conspiracy theories and fake news,” Colin Hortman said. “Words matter. Sharing fake news is dangerous.” The family described the viral falsehoods as “another hurdle our family must overcome in grieving the loss” of their parents.
The murder of Melissa Hortman, hailed as one of the most consequential speakers in Minnesota’s history, sent shockwaves through the state’s political community. The subsequent attempts to politicize the tragedy by spreading disinformation have only deepened the wounds. In the days following the attack, prominent MAGA figures attempted to paint Boelter—who friends described as a strong Trump supporter—as a Democrat, in an effort to cast the political left as dangerous. This narrative, however, was quickly debunked by authorities and did not withstand scrutiny.
The controversy has reignited a broader debate about the role of social media in amplifying conspiracy theories and the responsibility of political leaders to avoid fanning the flames of outrage and suspicion. The intensified focus on fraud in Minnesota, especially in the context of the day care program scandal, has provided fertile ground for discredited theories to gain traction, particularly when promoted by large social media accounts and national figures.
Despite efforts by leaders on both sides of the aisle to set the record straight, the persistence of these falsehoods highlights the ongoing challenge of combating misinformation in a polarized environment. As the 2026 election cycle heats up, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences that can arise when conspiracy theories are allowed to flourish unchecked.
For the grieving Hortman family and many Minnesotans, the hope remains that truth and civility will ultimately prevail over rumor and rage.
