Who is the mayor of Minneapolis? Jacob Frey responds to Trump’s attack of protests
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey fired back at President Donald Trump’s attack on the city’s leadership amid recent protests.
The demonstrations erupted in response to the death of George Floyd. He became unconscious after a police officer kneeled against his neck, video from the incident Monday shows.
Trump took to social media late Thursday to call out protesters.
“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen,” the president wrote in a post that Twitter flagged as violating its rules about “glorifying violence.”
Trump, a Republican, also critiqued the city’s response.
“A total lack of leadership,” the president wrote. “Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right.”
Frey, a Democrat, responded to the criticism on Friday, saying the city would get through this “difficult time,” video from a city news conference shows.
“Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions,” Frey said. “Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else during a time of crisis. Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis.”
Who is the mayor?
Frey was raised in Virginia and later moved to Minneapolis, where he was an advocate for the homeless, according to the city’s website. Frey also helped to organize a race that raised money to help strike down a state constitutional amendment proposing a ban on same-sex marriage, the website said.
Frey had a successful bid for city council in 2013 and was elected mayor in 2017, according to Minneapolis officials. He is married to Sarah Clarke and a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Virginia, the website said.
This week wasn’t the first time Trump spoke out against the mayor.
In October, the president tweeted about the city’s decision to charge $530,000 for security for his re-election campaign event in Minneapolis, Politico reported at the time.
“The lightweight mayor is hurting the great police and other wonderful supporters,” Trump wrote. “72,000 ticket requests already. Dump Frey and (U.S. Rep. Ilhan) Omar! Make America Great Again!”
Frey responded in a tweet: “Yawn... Welcome to Minneapolis where we pay our bills, we govern with integrity, and we love all of our neighbors.”
After Floyd’s death, the mayor urged the Hennepin County attorney to charge the arresting officer, WCCO and other news outlets reported on Wednesday.
In addition to peaceful protests, demonstrators have looted stores and set buildings on fire, the Star Tribune reported.
“Please, please, Minneapolis,” Frey told the newspaper on Wednesday night. “We cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy.”
This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Who is the mayor of Minneapolis? Jacob Frey responds to Trump’s attack of protests."
