Josh Liljenquist on Newsmax2’s The Pulse

Newsmax2 park-restriction interview transcript

Transcript note: This transcript has been lightly edited for readability by correcting obvious name errors, removing non-substantive verbal fillers and adding punctuation. The meaning and sequence of the interview have not been changed. Two brief passages of partisan host commentary—one at the opening and one at the close—are omitted from this public readability draft and remain preserved in the private/raw archival transcript. No Josh Liljenquist remarks are omitted.

00:15 — Outreach montage

ARCHIVED OUTREACH CLIPS: Josh Liljenquist approaches a man experiencing homelessness, asks whether he can take him to a thrift store for clothes, notices that he needs socks and later surprises him.

DAVID HARRIS JR.: Josh Liljenquist has a large social-media following and is known for handing out food, money and supplies to people in the Twin Cities. Harris introduces the St. Paul parks controversy.

ARCHIVED LOCAL-NEWS CLIP: A previous report describes the St. Paul restriction and the city’s allegations.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, ARCHIVED CLIP: It was never brought to my attention by anybody that I was breaking rules.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, ARCHIVED CLIP: Me and my videographer both check for consent before they do it.

02:00 — “Have you got a clear answer?”

DAVID HARRIS JR.: I know your ban has been lifted. That’s a good thing. But have you gotten a clear answer on why you were banned in the first place?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: No. When I tried to ask follow-up questions about who was claiming these harassment complaints, they never pointed to a single name, so I’m still not sure. The only thing they said was that it was a “vulnerable adult sibling.” When I asked for clarification, I never got a name for that person either.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: [The supplied transcript resumes mid-thought.] “…who were down at the camp,” and they were like, “Some people view sheriffs as bad people. Do you think you could introduce us to some people and we could hand out some bags?” So I helped them pass out bags and necessities and introduced them.

Other than that, the first text I got was from a deputy director and he said, “If you’re planning on having a concert, don’t.” I’ve never thrown a concert before, nor would I ever think about throwing one, so I was really caught off guard.

03:17 — Josh says he would have corrected any rule problem

DAVID HARRIS JR.: Do you have any idea why they would target you in this manner?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: [Beginning of response unclear in the supplied transcript.] Nobody ever approached me from the city. If they had, I would have corrected my behavior. It’s not like I’m trying not to follow the rules. Rules are meant to be followed, and if somebody had told me I was doing something wrong, obviously I would have corrected it.

03:44 — What inspired the content?

DAVID HARRIS JR.: What caused you to start making content like this in the first place?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: My grandpa came home from Vietnam and started a small plumbing business. When he passed away, people were talking about how much of an impact he had made in their lives.

My grandpa used to pick me or my cousins up and we would go turn somebody’s heat on, fix water heaters or do HVAC work. Whenever he picked us up, that meant they were doing it for free. I didn’t know that at the time.

After he passed away, I put two and two together and asked my grandma. She said yes, but that she had made him a promise that she wouldn’t say anything until he passed away. Nobody really knew besides my grandma.

04:46 — Archived kindness clips and prayer

ARCHIVED CLIPS: A business owner offers to cover an order that Josh says is for people experiencing homelessness. The montage also includes a hug and a prayer thanking God for the opportunity to help people in the community.

05:16 — Faith and the feeling of helping people

DAVID HARRIS JR.: I know your faith is clearly part of the mission. What is it like when you get to help somebody—whether you’re visiting people on hospice, giving roses or giving food to people experiencing homelessness?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: In its simplest form, I say it’s my drug of choice. My drug of choice is to make people happy and make people smile.

DAVID HARRIS JR.: Your faith shines through. Do you love Jesus?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: He’s the center of everything I do. Every time we finish a video, we always have a little prayer time.

06:19 — Closing

DAVID HARRIS JR.: I’m glad your ban is lifted.

[Brief partisan/speculative host commentary omitted from the public readability transcript; preserved in the raw archival transcript.]

DAVID HARRIS JR.: God bless you, brother. Thanks for joining The Pulse tonight.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: God bless you too, David. Thank you.