The President of the United States on Thanksgiving Day called Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz “seriously retarded” in a social media post in which Trump complained about Walz allowing an influx of Somali migrants into the state.
On Sunday on Air Force One, heading back to Washington, D.C. from his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, where he spent Thanksgiving weekend, Trump was asked by a reporter if he stood by his comment, calling Walz “what many Americans consider an offensive word.” Trump replied, “Yeah, I think there’s something wrong with him. Absolutely.”
Reporter: You called Tim Walz what many Americans consider an offensive word. |retarded|
Do you stand by that claim?
Trump: Yeah I think there’s something wrong with him. Absolutely. pic.twitter.com/btTyxwrH10
— Rachel Bitecofer
(@RachelBitecofer) November 30, 2025
Trump’s nephew, Fred Trump III (son of the president’s late older brother, Fred Trump, Jr.), responded to his uncle’s remarks on social media.
Fred Trump, whose son William is part of the intellectually and developmentally disabled (IDD) community, wrote: “As the parent of a young adult with severe disabilities, the use of the ‘R’ word is never acceptable and is very hurtful. Where has this country gone that we even have to discuss this?”
As the parent of a young adult with severe disabilities, the use of the “R” word is never acceptable and is very hurtful. Where has this country gone that we even have to discuss this?
— Fred Trump (@FredTrump_) November 30, 2025
Influencer Dave Kelley replied to Fred Trump: “It’s another feature of MAGA… somewhere in the last couple years, I heard something about a r/w podcaster declaring that it’s ok to use the “R” word… they proudly rave against political correctness… (they can’t survive it)… lately, a lot of my MAGA hate comments use it…”
Criminal defense attorney Beth Bourdon replied: “this country has gone to a place where you can’t discuss it because being kind = being ‘woke’ and that’s ‘bad.’”
[Note: In Fred Trump’s memoir, All in the Family, he wrote about “his visits to the White House, advocating for people with complex disabilities. Those visits have not always been respected and, under the surface, was a disturbing message no one should receive.” Walz also parents a child, Gus Walz, who is neurodivergent and has a non-verbal learning disorder.]