Brad Finstad

Representative Brad Finstad, a Minnesota Republican, has received some blowback over his copy and pasted X post thanking President Donald Trump for his efforts in the state on Monday.

Newsweek has reached out to Finstad’s press team for comment via email on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Finstad has served as the Republican representative for Minnesota’s 1st congressional district since 2022, first elected via special election.

On Saturday, a federal agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The incident comes as tensions escalated earlier this month in the city after two separate shootings involving immigration officials—one that killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, and another that left Venezuelan migrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis injured during an attempted detention.

Tensions between Minnesota leaders and the Trump administration have been fraught and amplified over the past weeks as many Democrats have repeated calls for ICE to leave the state and communities nationwide.

DHS announced Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis area in December and have since brought in thousands of federal immigration enforcement officers.

What To Know

Trump said on Truth Social on Monday that he had spoken with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz about working together, calling it a "very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength." He added that "both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!" as he discussed crime in the state.

Finstad, who received Trump’s endorsement for reelection in November, thanked the president and governor for their efforts in an X post. However, he also copy and pasted the note from his team indicating what the post should say.

Several screenshots circulating, which Newsweek has confirmed, show that the full original X post said, "Hi Brad. I am sending you a post on socials regarding the trump walz conversation, this has been approved by staff. Will be using the picture attached and caption for all three platforms."

The post continued to write out, "Caption: Thank you, President Trump and Governor Walz. I am pleased to see these recent developments. The only way to a resolution is through productive conversations. Public safety shouldn’t be partisan, and cooperation is how we deliver real results for our communities. Real leadership means putting law and order above politics."

The post appears to have been edited and fixed within three minutes of posting, according to a screenshot Newsweek obtained.

Some critics said the congressman’s post was especially inappropriate given the recent fatal incident in his home state. It is typical for staffers to write social media posts for members of Congress.

One X user, Rabb Wilder, wrote, "when you basically couldn't care less," about his post, while another user Pablo Henri said, "Imagine being a congressman from Minnesota and caring so little about what’s happening here that you just copy and paste talking points."

What People Are Saying

Representative Sean Casten, an Illinois Democrat, said in an X post on Tuesday: "Sending thoughts and prayers to everyone employed or represented by Brad Finstad this morning."

Jake Johnson, a Democrat running for Finstad’s seat in November, said in a Monday X post: "Imagine being a congressman from Minnesota and caring so little about what’s happening here that you just copy and paste talking points. If you’re not writing your own statements and you’re not holding town halls, what exactly are we paying you for?"

President Donald Trump said in a November Truth Social post: "Congressman Brad Finstad is a fantastic Representative of Minnesota's 1st Congressional District!... Brad Finstad has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election--HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"

What Happens Next

Top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis today. Trump said border czar Tom Homan will be arriving in the state shortly.