(St. Paul, MN)- On Monday, Governor Walz commented on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s claims of hesitation to send in the National Guard to Minneapolis on May 27 with this statement, “I don’t think the mayor knew what he was asking for…I think the mayor said, ‘I request the National Guard, whew, this is great. We’re going to have massively trained troops.’ No. You’re going to have 19-year-olds who are cooks.”

Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) responded with the following:

“Our National Guard has showcased excellent training and professionalism throughout the last few months. It was they, and only they, that were able to quell rioting in Minneapolis successfully. More recently, 700 members of the Guard were deployed to Africa for a year; due to COVID-19, they were denied the traditional ceremony to say final goodbyes to family and children.

“Meanwhile, Governor Walz has apparently taken to slamming our military members when it suits his political agenda. His shocking ’19-year-old cooks’ statement is an egregious insult to the highly trained members of the Guard and the families who support them.

“The sacrifices of these soldiers and their families should be recognized, and their jobs esteemed by state leadership. This comment is unacceptable from someone who, frankly, knows better.”