Republican attacks on Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz have focused on his response to civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a former running mate of President Donald Trump, criticized Walz for allegedly allowing rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020. However, it is important to note that Walz, not Trump, was the one who deployed the Minnesota National Guard in response to the escalating situation.
Following Floyd's death on May 25, 2020, protests erupted in Minneapolis the next day, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police. Some of these protests turned violent, resulting in riots that caused damage to businesses in the city. On May 27, there were incidents of looting, violence, and arson alongside peaceful protests. On May 28, Walz took action by signing an executive order to activate part of the Minnesota National Guard after protesters set fire to the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct.
