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Ex-prosecutor: Trump’s use of disability slur against Gov. Walz is ‘absolutely indefensible’

Former federal prosecutor Joseph Moreno condemned President Trump’s use of a disability slur aimed at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz following a National Guard shooting in Washington. Trump called Walz “seriously retarded” on Truth Social and also attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, prompting sharp criticism. Walz urged Trump to “release” his recent MRI results. The episode has left some conservatives questioning continued support amid heightened rhetoric about immigrants.

02:40 PM, 11/30/2025Politics

Former federal prosecutor Joseph Moreno sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Friday for using a disability slur to describe Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after a National Guard shooting in Washington earlier this week.

In a Thursday post on Truth Social, the president called Walz “seriously retarded” and accused the governor of allowing refugees from Somalia to settle in Minnesota and allegedly giving them the opportunity to “prey” on local residents.

Speaking on CNN’s The Lead on Friday, Moreno said the president’s language made it difficult for him to continue identifying as a conservative who values vigorous but respectful political debate.

“When you see something like this, which is absolutely indefensible, and you’re sitting at the Thanksgiving table and your family and friends say, ‘How can you possibly support an administration that comes out with messages like this?’” Moreno said.

Trump’s social-media attacks also targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a long-standing target of his criticism. In one post the president called her the “worst ‘Congressman/woman’ in our Country,” disparaged her background and spoke negatively about the nation from which she came.

Gov. Walz responded by urging Trump to “release” his recent MRI results, referencing a brain scan the president underwent last month.

Minnesota is home to the nation’s largest Somali community, with roughly 107,000 residents as of 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Trump’s escalated rhetoric toward immigrants — particularly those in the U.S. illegally — has ignited broader debate about the treatment of migrants and communities of color.

Moreno said the exchange with Minnesota officials has made some conservatives question whether they can continue to support the president.

“It’s not easy. And you have to take the big picture view. Do you think that we’re better off as a country now than we would be under a Biden or Harris administration? And is it worth putting up with a president that puts out messaging like this? It’s a tough one, and I’m not gonna pretend I know the answer to that,” Moreno told guest host Boris Sanchez.

This controversy highlights the tension between political strategy and rhetoric: supporters weigh policy outcomes against the impact of inflammatory language on public discourse and vulnerable communities.

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