Trump condemns attack on Democrats

US President Donald Trump condemned the attacks on two Democrats in Minnesota that took place in the early hours of Saturday.

Melissa Hortman, a former congresswoman, and her husband were shot to death. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot in a separate attack but survived after surgery.

In a statement released by the White House, the president said he had been informed of what he called “a horrific attack targeting state legislators” and assured that this type of violence “will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”

Donald Trump, who is facing increasing criticism over the climate of political polarization, also said that the FBI and Attorney General Pam Bondi are investigating the case and that all those responsible “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.

Authorities confirmed that the attacker posed as a law enforcement officer and was heavily armed. A manifesto was found in the suspect's car that included a list of politicians, including the victims.

Police are continuing a massive manhunt involving hundreds of officers in the Minneapolis area.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the events a “deliberate act of political violence” and urged people to avoid demonstrations, which have since been canceled for security reasons.

The attack comes at a time of heightened political tension in the United States. On the same day, Trump held a rare military parade in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army, an event that coincided with more than 2,000 protests organized across the country against what demonstrators call presidential “authoritarianism.”

The death of Melissa Hortman, a Democratic lawmaker and mother of two, has caused a national outcry. Senator Amy Klobuchar said she was horrified by the loss of her “great friend,” praising the integrity and compassion with which she served Minnesotans since 2004.