The children of a murdered Minnesota state legislator have made an emotional public plea to former President Donald Trump, urging him to remove a social media post that promotes a baseless conspiracy theory about their parents' deaths.
An Emotional Plea from a Grieving Family
Colin and Sophie Hortman, the son and daughter of the late Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, have directly addressed Trump. They ask him to take down a video he shared on his Truth Social platform which falsely suggests Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ordered the killing. The couple, along with their golden retriever, were shot dead at their home on 14 June 2025 by a man impersonating a police officer.
In a statement seen by NBC News, Colin Hortman wrote: "I am asking President Trump to remove the video that he shared and apologize to me and my family for posting this misinformation and for using my mother’s own words to dishonor her memory." His sister, Sophie, described the post as promoting a "false narrative" and called it another painful hurdle in the family's grief.
The Baseless Claims and the Real Killer
The conspiracy theory reshared by Trump alleges that Governor Walz orchestrated the murder in retaliation for Melissa Hortman breaking with her Democratic party to vote against taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants. The post's originator cited a letter allegedly written by the arrested shooter, Vance Boelter, to FBI Director Kash Patel.
In reality, Boelter is a former employee of Governor Walz who faces six federal charges, including murder and attempted murder, for the attacks. Authorities state he first targeted State Senator John Hoffman and his family before killing the Hortmans. He was captured after a two-day manhunt and could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
Governor Walz, who was Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 election, has forcefully denied any involvement. He condemned Trump's actions, stating: "Dangerous, depraved behavior from the sitting president of the United States. In covering for an actual serial killer, he is going to get more innocent people killed."
Conspiracy Theories and Political Exploitation
This incident is part of a broader pattern where Trump has amplified conspiracy theories about immigration, specifically targeting Somali communities in Minnesota. His administration recently promoted an AI-generated film trailer, "Minnesota Millionaires," which perpetuates stereotypes about fraud within state daycare programmes supporting Somali immigrant families.
The Hortman family's plea highlights the very real human cost of such disinformation. Sophie Hortman appealed to Trump's sense of decency, asking him to "honor the spirit of the holidays we have just spent without our parents" by removing the post. As the legal case against Boelter proceeds, the family continues to seek closure and respect for their parents' memory, free from politically motivated falsehoods.
