Former NFL player and University of Minnesota standout Jack Brewer is speaking out forcefully against Governor Tim Walz following a shocking act of political violence that left former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife wounded.
Brewer, who played for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Golden Gophers, didn’t hold back in his condemnation of Minnesota’s current leadership. “The state has become the capital of chaos,” he said, blaming what he called a “radical liberal agenda” in Minneapolis and St. Paul for creating a culture of division, lawlessness, and fear.
He singled out both Governor Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, accusing them of fostering an environment that emboldens extremism and undermines public safety. Brewer called for a return to traditional American values—strong leadership, family, and faith—especially in light of the murders occurring just days before Father’s Day.
Authorities have identified 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter as the prime suspect in the politically charged shootings. Boelter, a former appointee to the Minnesota Workforce Development Board under both Governor Mark Dayton and Governor Walz, is accused of impersonating a police officer and orchestrating two targeted attacks against the victims.
Governor Walz denounced the incident as a “politically motivated assassination”, vowing state-level support for law enforcement and emphasizing the need to preserve peaceful political discourse. However, he made no mention of Boelter’s prior connection to his administration.
Brewer dismissed Walz’s response as too little, too late. “This is what happens when weak leadership and ideological extremism take over,” Brewer warned. “You can’t coddle radicalism and then act surprised when it turns violent.”
He went further, framing the violence as a symptom of moral decay:
“Whenever you give Satan power, he shows his face,” Brewer said, adding that political dissent within the Democratic Party is now often met with hostility or worse.
Brewer’s remarks have struck a chord with many who see rising political violence as a symptom of broader cultural collapse—and a leadership vacuum in Minnesota. As law enforcement continues the manhunt for Boelter, the political aftershocks are just beginning.