MINNEAPOLIS — Two days ahead of his visit to the city, President Donald Trump is publicly sparring with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The spat began over a dispute over who would pay for the security for the Thursday rally.
According to the Trump campaign, Minneapolis “pre-emptively informed the Target Center that it would be responsible for $530,000 in security and other costs related to the event. The Target Center attempted to pass the costs on to the Trump campaign under threat of withholding the use of the arena.”
The Trump campaign threatened to sue in response to the demand. But Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale later said the venue was “fully approved.”
The ire between spilled over onto social media Tuesday:
“Radical Left Dem Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, is doing everything possible to stifle Free Speech despite a record sell-out crowd at the Target Center,” Trump tweeted today.
“The Minneapolis Police have been incredible….”
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“In fact, the ‘Cops For Trump’ T-shirt Web Site CRASHED because of incredible volume, but is now back up and running. Proceeds go to the Police Union Charities. See you on Thursday night in Minneapolis!”
Trump referenced the “Cops for Trump” T-shirts that Minneapolis police union president Lt. Bob Kroll is printing in response to a department policy that bans off-duty officers from wearing their police uniforms in political settings, such as a campaign rally.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo released the following statement Tuesday, laying down rules for rally-goers and protesters:
When our Nation’s President arrives in our city this Thursday, the men and women of the Minneapolis Police Department along with our local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners will be focused on our primary responsibility to ensure the public safety of ALL who will participate in practicing their first amendment rights which include Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Peaceable Assembly.
The MPD will administrate a comprehensive, operational public safety plan which includes a highly visible and robust police presence in and around Target Center on Thursday.
With so many people expected in the area, Arradondo said he is “strongly urging” everyone in the downtown area Thursday not to bring items such as:
Arradondo said people engaging in illegal behavior at and around the rally “will be arrested and we will work with our criminal justice agencies to ensure they are properly charged to the full extent of the law.”
Trump rally details: