Tim Walz abruptly ends press conference with no questions
Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., ended his press conference announcing the end of his third bid for governor without taking questions from reporters on Monday.
Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., surprised reporters by leaving his press conference on Monday without taking questions.
Earlier that day, Walz confirmed reports that he would be dropping his bid for a third term as governor as the state faces massive fraud allegations.
"Like many Minnesotans, I have to tell you I was glad to turn the page on 2025. It was an extraordinarily difficult year for our state, and it ended on a particularly sour note," Walz opened in his remarks to the press.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn., announces he's dropping his 2026 re-election bid. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
In his comments, Walz denounced people who sought to "take advantage of our state's generosity" as well as the "organized group of political actors" he said were exploiting the chaos.
"I don't want to mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies in Washington and in St. Paul and online want to make our state a colder and meaner place. They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors," Walz said.
At the end of his approximately seven-minute remarks, Walz closed by saying that he would return on Tuesday with an update on Minnesota's paid family leave program and that he would "take all your questions."
COMER WARNS WALZ ABSENCE AT MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING WOULD BE 'ADMISSION TO GUILT' BY GOVERNOR
Walz then left abruptly as his staff thanked reporters and encouraged them to return the next day.
Tim Walz did not answer reporter questions after his announcement. (Tim Evans/Reuters)
"Wow," one reporter could be heard saying.
Another called out to the staff, "I thought you said you were going to take questions? Why didn't you?"
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz's office for a comment. Director of communications Claire Lancaster confirmed that Walz plans to answer questions on Tuesday.
Walz launched his bid for a third four-year term as Minnesota governor in September, but in recent weeks he has been facing a barrage of incoming political fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans, and some Democrats, over the large-scale theft in a state that has long prided itself on good governance.
Minnesota has seen massive fraud allegations under Tim Walz's leadership. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
More than 90 people — most from Minnesota's large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation's largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion.
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Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to the report.
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