Democratic presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris revealed her choice for running mate on Tuesday, naming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, whose “radical” political history quickly became a hot topic on social media as clips and headlines surfaced.
The Minnesota Democrat, who garnered significant support from the progressive wing of Harris’s party—featuring endorsements from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.—joined Harris at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, marking the start of their tour through several important states.
“What really stood out to me about Tim is his deep commitment to advocating for middle-class families,” Harris remarked during the announcement of her choice for vice president.
Here are five notable statements from the former lawmaker and prospective future vice president, which have faced criticism for being labeled “weird”:
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
“Weird” goes viral
Walz gained attention—and mockery—from Democrats nationwide when he labeled former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, as “weird.”
“These are strange individuals on the other side; they aim to remove books and intrude into your personal matters—that’s the essence of it,” he stated during an MSNBC appearance last month. “Let’s not sugarcoat it—these notions are indeed peculiar.”
This comment has been embraced by the Harris campaign and is perceived to have stuck with the Trump campaign, which has pushed back against Democrats by attacking their “radical” proposals.
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“What’s truly strange?” Donald Trump Jr. responded. “Politicians soft on crime like Kamala letting undocumented individuals out of prison only to violently attack Americans.”
Vance utilized the “weird” label during a rally in Atlanta, enumerating several of Harris’s policy stances.
Walz has continued to employ the term “weird” in his public speeches, reiterating it after being named as Harris’s running mate at Tuesday’s rally in Philadelphia.
“These individuals are indeed weird and quite creepy,” he stated.
Socialism = neighborliness
When many consider socialism, they often envision enforced wealth distribution, exorbitant tax rates, or the most egregious actions of regimes like the Soviet Union.
Recently, however, Walz reframed socialism positively, associating it with “neighborliness.”
“Never shy away from our progressive values,” the Minnesota Democrat expressed during a “White Dudes for Harris” call last week. “What one person defines as socialism, another sees as neighborliness.”
This statement quickly ignited outrage on social media.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks before President Joe Biden at Dutch Creek Farms, Nov. 1, 2023, in Northfield, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
“Neighborliness caused the deaths of my family members,” journalist Karol Markowicz posted on X.
“Walz’s notion that socialism equals mere ‘neighborliness’ is a fabricated lie that ignores the grave realities numerous families have endured under socialist regimes,” Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares posted on X.
“Weird,” stated Manhattan Institute senior fellow Ilya Shapiro.
“A 30-foot ladder factory”
Critics have focused on Walz’s views regarding immigration, particularly his support for issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants and his endorsement of sanctuary policies.
However, Walz sparked surprise when he humorously suggested that if Trump attempted to construct another wall at the southern border, he would create a profitable business.
“He discusses this wall; I always say, let me know how high it is. If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in a 30-foot ladder factory,” he stated during a CNN appearance. “That’s not how you effectively manage this.”
The Trump campaign, Republican National Committee, and various conservative critics leveraged this soundbite to attack Harris, referring to her past as “border czar,” a title that continues to affect her reputation as vice president.
JD Vance criticized Kamala Harris’ selection of Tim Walz as her running mate. (Getty Images)
“Get off the couch”
On Tuesday, Walz seemed to dip into inaccurate claims regarding Vance when discussing debate preparations.
“I’m eager to debate this individual,” Walz stated. “That is, if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up. Do you see what I did there?”
The crowd’s enthusiastic response, along with Harris’s reaction, indicated they understood the reference.
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS CHOOSES MINNESOTA GOV TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE
This remark alludes to a false online rumor—that Vance claimed in his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” to have engaged in sexual activities with a couch—that has been debunked by multiple fact-checking organizations.
Despite the misinformation being repeatedly disproven, Walz appeared to enjoy spreading the falsehood, becoming the most notable proponent to date.
Chinese luxury
This week, the New York Post discovered remarks from Walz dating back to 1990, in which he expressed admiration for the living conditions he experienced in China.
“No matter how long I live, I will never experience such kindness again,” he shared with a local media outlet.
“They presented me with more gifts than I could pack for home. It was a truly exceptional experience,” Walz added, noting how well he was treated.
These comments surfaced shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 and amidst ongoing human rights violations within the communist regime.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends an infrastructure event addressing high-speed internet in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 3, 2021. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)
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Walz was not the only family member facing public scrutiny; his wife, Minnesota’s First Lady Gwen Walz, sparked outrage on social media when a clip from a 2020 interview went viral, recounting her experiences during the riots.
“We’ve had more sleepless nights through the riots,” she told KSTP in July 2020. “The smell of burning tires was very tangible, and I kept the windows open as long as I could because it served as a powerful reminder of what was unfolding.”
This statement was characterized as “weird” and “bizarre” across social media platforms.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
