A conservative radio host in Milwaukee is apologizing after making remarks calling for someone to “take out” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Dan O’Donnell, afternoon drive host on WISN-AM (1130), which is owned by iHeartMedia, posted an apology on X on March 3.
“I want to take a moment to offer my sincerest apologies for a post I made about Minnesota’s Governor that, quite frankly, I am deeply ashamed of,” O’Donnell wrote.
“It was irresponsible and completely inappropriate and I have since taken it down. It served only to deepen divisions at a time when unity and basic human decency are most needed.
“My primary responsibility as a broadcaster, a father, and a person is to always comport myself professionally, appropriately, and compassionately, and I failed to do that.
“Again, I am truly, deeply, unequivocally sorry.”
The apology post comes about an hour before O’Donnell was set to host his 3 p.m. program. But O’Donnell was not on the air March 3, instead Matt Kittle was hosting. WISN-AM has not responded to a request for comment.
In 2024, another former WISN-AM radio host, Jay Weber, was suspended for two weeks after posting vulgar comments about Walz’s then-17-year-old neurodivergent son, Gus.
Following news the U.S. military conducted a mission that killed the leader of Iran on Feb. 28, O’Donnell posted the comment toward Walz on March 1.
“Now take out the Supreme Leader of Minnesota. We will be greeted as liberators,” O’Donnell posted.
He then replied to the tweet with an AI photo of Walz wearing a black turban with the phrase “Death to fraud investigations!” in quotes.
Minnesota is in the midst of a large and evolving crackdown on potential social services fraud. Walz, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election, announced he would not seek reelection as governor.
Minnesota is also the state where last year a 57-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing a former House Speaker and her husband and injuring another lawmaker and his wife. The gunman’s manifesto allegedly included 11 Wisconsin lawmakers.
Several gubernatorial candidates in Wisconsin reacted to O’Donnell’s remarks in the hours since the post, including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
Crowley said O’Donnell’s remarks “are not commentary or satire. They’re dangerous.”
“There is no version of political disagreement that justifies violence,” he added. “Regardless of party or policy, the safety of elected leaders and our families is non-negotiable.
“There needs to be accountability because the rhetoric on our airwaves matters. The cycle of political violence will only end when we stop tolerating the conditions that allow it to grow.”
State Sen. Kelda Roys said, “This isn’t funny. Minnesota just had two lawmakers and their spouses shot by a political assassin. Their speaker and her husband died. I’ve gotten death threats for decades. This is unacceptable.”
Roys then offered herself to be a guest on O’Donnell’s show.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee radio host Dan O’Donnell apologizes for post about Tim Walz
Reporting by Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
