Sen. Mike Lee is facing fierce criticism from both sides of the aisle after posting inflammatory comments in the wake of the Minnesota lawmaker shootings—a tone-deaf move that prompted an extraordinary confrontation on the Senate floor.
At a Glance
- Lee posted on X blaming “Marxists” and attacking Gov. Tim Walz after shootings that targeted Minnesota Democrats
- Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) personally confronted Lee on the Senate floor, calling his comments “terrible”
- Lee deleted the posts but has not issued a public apology
- Senate Democrats and Republicans alike condemned the remarks as inflammatory
- The suspect was a known far-right extremist targeting a list of 70 Democratic officials
What Happened
According to AP News, after the shootings that killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and seriously wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Sen. Mike Lee took to X to blame “Marxists” for political violence and to criticize Gov. Tim Walz—despite police evidence showing the alleged gunman was a far-right extremist and longtime Republican supporter.
This led Sen. Tina Smith to confront Lee directly on the Senate floor. As The Washington Post reports, Smith was personally affected because her name appeared on the suspect’s target list.
Bipartisan Condemnation
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Lee’s remarks “despicable” in comments captured by Axios. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and other Democrats also demanded Lee remove the posts—and urged platforms to address such inflammatory rhetoric.
Even Republicans like Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) criticized Lee’s actions, calling them “insensitive” and “not even true,” according to Axios.
Rep. Nolan West, a Republican in Minnesota, told reporters that his “respect for Lee was rescinded” after the misleading statements were posted.
Watch: Senators clash over Lee’s posts on Minnesota shootings
The Bigger Picture
The backlash underscores growing concern over political rhetoric in an era of escalating threats. As The Guardian notes, the Minnesota shooting suspect had compiled a “kill list” of nearly 70 Democratic leaders and activists—a chilling example of ideological violence taking aim at U.S. democracy.
What’s Next
With tensions rising, Senate leaders are calling for greater responsibility in public discourse—urging lawmakers to avoid inflammatory commentary during crises. Meanwhile, security protocols for elected officials are under review amid renewed fears of politically motivated violence.
In an era when rhetoric can trigger real-world danger, Mike Lee’s ill-timed posts serve as a sobering reminder: words matter, especially when lives are at stake.
