Minnesota Governor Tim Walz displayed a striking disconnect from the average American voter during a recent interview, sparking backlash online for his comments about the Democrats’ failed presidential campaign.
In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio last Thursday, Walz reflected on why he and the Democrats fell short in the election. His remarks showed a clear misunderstanding of former President Donald Trump’s appeal, particularly when he suggested that his “lack of wealth” should have resonated more with voters than Trump’s billionaire status.
“I thought it was a real flex when the Wall Street Journal pointed out that I might have been the least wealthy person to ever run for vice president,” Walz said. “How in the world did we lose to a billionaire or a venture capitalist, when we were making the case of a county attorney and a high school teacher? I focused my whole career on the middle class… and it seemed like a lot of good ideas were coming from the Democrats.”
Tampon Tim Walz thought it was a flex that he was the poorest VP candidate in history 😂
— Joey Salads (@JoeySalads) December 13, 2024
Is he retarded?
pic.twitter.com/WUejwdhhIA
The comments quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), with conservatives lambasting Walz for his lack of awareness. Critics pointed out that Walz seemed far removed from everyday Americans’ struggles, noting that his repeated trips to China and other privileges highlighted just how disconnected he was.
He was so close to becoming a millionaire.
— Zach Henry (@zhenryaz) December 13, 2024
https://twitter.com/ALibertyWizard/status/1867893268375380246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1867893268375380246%7Ctwgr%5E372b6457be2037f8207b57986f155e4f4c10a998%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2024%2F12%2Ftampon-tim-walz-gets-lit-up-after-he%2F
How does the poorest VP candidate in history afford >30 trips to China??
— Booker9e (@booker9e) December 14, 2024
— Haikus From Underground (@HaikusFromUnder) December 13, 2024
Walz can flex all he wants, but Trump's the one who got the job done.
— Matt Gaetz 🇺🇸🦅 Commentary (@MattGaetz_X) December 15, 2024
— Trumpismyprez2028! ❤️🤍💙 (@AngieIvie41529) December 15, 2024
See, people can admire someone relatable, Tim. The problem is that you seem to be somewhat of a compulsive liar. At best, you're too goofy to be taken seriously, and at worse, you come across like you've got some nasty secrets in your closet.
— Mamnash Wiggim (@MamnashW41843) December 14, 2024
This misstep comes on the heels of another head-scratching admission from Walz during an interview with Minnesota outlet KSTP-TV, where he expressed shock over the election results.
“It felt like at the rallies, at the things I was going to, the shops I was going in, that the momentum was going our way, and it obviously wasn’t at the end,” Walz said. “So yeah, I was a little surprised. I thought we had a positive message and I thought the country was ready for that.”
The backlash underscores the gulf between Walz’s perception of the campaign and the reality of why voters gravitated toward Trump and his populist message, leaving many wondering if the Democrats have learned anything from their historic defeat.