Holocaust Museum Condemns Walz for Anne Frank Comparison to Minnesota Children

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced sharp criticism from the U.S. Holocaust Museum after comparing the fears of Minnesota children amid federal immigration enforcement to Anne Frank’s experience during the Holocaust.

“Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish,” the U.S. Holocaust Museum stated on social media Monday. “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.”

The controversy erupted following Walz’s comments at a Sunday press briefing about recent immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Walz had claimed that children in the state were “hiding in their houses, afraid to go outside” due to federal agents’ tactics.

“Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank,” Walz said. “Somebody is going to write that children’s story about Minnesota, and there’s one person who can end this now,” referring to President Donald Trump.

The remarks came after the shooting death of Alex Pretti during an encounter with federal agents, which has intensified tensions in the state regarding immigration enforcement operations.

Holocaust references in immigration debates have become increasingly contentious in American political discourse. Critics argue such comparisons trivialize the systematic genocide of six million Jews during World War II, while defenders contend they highlight what they see as human rights concerns in current immigration policies.

John Nagel, a retired Minnesota State Patrol lieutenant now running as a Republican congressional candidate against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, called Walz’s comments “dangerous, disgusting, and profoundly irresponsible.”

“No matter where people stand on immigration policy or recent enforcement actions, invoking the Holocaust — one of the darkest chapters in human history — has no place in responsible public leadership,” Nagel told Fox News Digital. He further characterized the governor’s statement as part of a “troubling pattern” rather than an “isolated remark.”

“When elected officials portray police or federal agents as Nazis, they create an environment where protesters can convince themselves that violently confronting law enforcement is not only justified, but morally required,” Nagel added.

The controversy occurs amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis, where federal immigration enforcement operations have sparked protests and confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations in urban areas have become increasingly visible under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.

Following the backlash, Walz appeared to adopt a more conciliatory approach. His office reported a “productive” phone call with President Trump on Monday, during which the governor advocated for “impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents” and a reduction in federal agent presence in Minnesota.

President Trump responded by announcing the deployment of White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, with instructions to report directly to the president. The move signals the administration’s continued commitment to immigration enforcement while acknowledging the need for oversight in a politically volatile situation.

The exchange highlights the increasingly polarized debate over immigration enforcement in the United States. Critics of the administration’s approach point to family separations and aggressive tactics, while supporters emphasize border security and law enforcement priorities.

As tensions continue in Minnesota, both state and federal officials face pressure to find solutions that address immigration concerns while ensuring community safety and respecting civil liberties—a balance that has proven elusive in America’s contentious immigration debate.