Former President Donald J. Trump recently sparked controversy by falsely asserting that he won Minnesota in the 2020 presidential election. Speaking at the Minnesota Republican Party’s Lincoln-Reagan dinner in St. Paul on Friday, May 17, 2024, Trump claimed victory in the state, despite clear evidence to the contrary.
“I thought we won it in 2016,” Trump told the crowd. “I know we won it in 2020.” This statement contradicts the certified electoral results. In 2020, Trump lost Minnesota to President Joe Biden, who received 52.4% of the vote compared to Trump’s 45.3%. Similarly, in the 2016 election, Trump was defeated by Hillary Clinton, who secured 46.4% of the vote against Trump’s 44.9%.
Trump’s assertions are part of a broader pattern of unfounded claims about his electoral performance, particularly in battleground states. Notably, the last Republican presidential candidate to carry Minnesota was Richard Nixon in 1972.
During his speech in Minnesota, Trump aimed to galvanize the state’s Republican base for a potential 2024 presidential bid. He emphasized his narrative of a stolen election, which continues to resonate with many of his supporters despite being debunked by numerous sources, including state election officials and courts across the country.
“Minnesota has always been very special to me,” Trump said. “We’re going to make sure that we bring Minnesota back into the Republican column in 2024.” He also criticized the current administration’s policies on immigration, the economy, and crime, framing these as failures of President Biden.
Despite Trump’s claims, the official results of the 2016 and 2020 elections were certified without credible evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has repeatedly confirmed the integrity and accuracy of the state’s election processes.
