The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a sharp rebuke to remarks by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who invoked the story of Anne Frank to criticize federal immigration enforcement operations in his state. The museum stated that Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish, and that leaders making false equivalencies to her experience for political purposes is never acceptable. It added that despite tensions in Minneapolis, exploiting the Holocaust is deeply offensive, especially amid a surge in antisemitism. The statement did not name Walz directly but came in direct response to his comments made the previous day.
Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish. Leaders making false equivalencies to her experience for political purposes is never acceptable. Despite tensions in Minneapolis, exploiting the Holocaust is deeply offensive, especially as antisemitism surges. pic.twitter.com/VVg0Uy7kjR
— US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) January 26, 2026
Walz, speaking at a press conference following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti by federal agents during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis, described children in Minnesota as hiding in their homes, afraid to go outside. He said many people grew up reading the story of Anne Frank, and warned that someone is going to write that kind of story about Minnesota. The Democratic governor urged President Trump to show decency by pulling federal agents out, resetting the situation, and allowing state officials to protect Minnesotans under state laws. Walz framed the issue as one of basic human decency rather than partisan politics, calling the federal presence an occupation that has instilled widespread fear, particularly among families and children.
Gov. Walz: "We grew up reading the story of Anne Frank. Somebody is gonna write one regarding Minnesota." pic.twitter.com/t8LEAFhZEr
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 25, 2026
The remarks stemmed from heightened unrest surrounding Operation Metro Surge, a major federal campaign deploying thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota. Pretti, an intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, was killed Saturday in an encounter with agents, marking the second such fatal shooting in recent weeks in the city. The incidents have sparked protests, outrage from local leaders, and criticism of federal tactics. State officials, including Minnesota’s attorney general, have accused federal authorities of blocking access to crime scenes, prompting a federal judge to order evidence preservation amid ongoing disputes.
Walz’s reference to Anne Frank—the Jewish teenager who documented her life in hiding from Nazi persecution before her capture and death in a concentration camp—aimed to highlight what he described as parallels in fear and loss of safety under government actions. Anne Frank’s diary has long served as a symbol of innocence amid tyranny and the dangers when authorities strip individuals of freedom and security. By drawing the comparison, Walz sought to underscore that Minnesota’s children should not face similar terror due to federal enforcement under the Trump administration.
The museum’s response highlights ongoing sensitivities around invoking the Holocaust in contemporary political debates. Such comparisons are often viewed as diminishing the unique scale and nature of the genocide of six million Jews, particularly when applied to unrelated contexts like domestic immigration enforcement. Walz’s comments have fueled broader discussions over rhetoric in heated disputes involving federal authority, state rights, and public safety. The governor has called for calm, peaceful protest, and resilience while pressing for federal withdrawal and accountability in the investigations.
The episode places Walz at the center of national debates on immigration policy, with local leaders demanding greater cooperation from federal agencies and a reevaluation of enforcement strategies. Walz has emphasized Minnesota’s values of protecting communities and upholding the Constitution, positioning the state’s response as a potential model amid rising national tensions over government power and individual rights.
