Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving message set off a political firestorm after he used the slur “seriously retarded” while attacking Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The remark appeared in a late-night tirade on his social platform, where Trump also pushed sweeping claims about immigration and singled out Somali communities in Minnesota.
The phrasing triggered immediate backlash across the state and across Reddit, where users swarmed r/minnesota to condemn the insult. One comment that shot to the top declared that “Trump is an empty shell at this point, he barely knows which direction he’s walking,” in a post that captured the tone of the thread. Others argued the statement was so polished that it looked ghostwritten. Many pointed directly at Stephen Miller and said the post “reads like it was written by Stephen Miller,” reflecting a broader belief among critics that Trump’s harshest rhetoric comes through his advisers.
Trump’s message framed Walz as weak on issues related to crime and immigration. He repeated claims that large numbers of immigrants are criminals or tied to extremist groups, assertions critics say are false or exaggerated. He revived long-standing attacks on Somali Minnesotans and suggested the state is being overrun, even though demographic data does not match that portrayal.
Walz responded within hours. His reply was brief but pointed. He wrote, “Release the MRI results,” a jab pointing to ongoing questions among Trump’s opponents about his health and cognitive sharpness. The short statement spread quickly as supporters argued the governor refused to engage in name-calling and instead redirected the conversation back toward Trump’s fitness for office.
“Walz’s retort is on point. Trump is dying, and he knows it,” wrote one angry Minnesotan.
On Reddit, the reaction was a mix of disbelief, anger, and exhaustion. Commenters accused Trump of feeding division and targeting entire communities for political gain. Some argued that no previous president had spoken about American citizens with such open hostility. Others insisted the message was another example of Trump and his inner circle leaning on rhetoric that inflames racial tensions during moments of national stress.
Critics outside the thread echoed similar points, saying the holiday message arrived at a moment when many expected unity rather than agitation. Instead, it reignited debates about extremism, immigration, power, and political responsibility.
Walz, for his part, has continued focusing on public statements unrelated to the feud, but his sharp response remains the line most widely shared. Meanwhile, the discussion online keeps growing as Minnesotans and other users argue about what the exchange says about the country and where the national conversation is heading next.
