Donald Trump wasted no time in launching an attack on Tim Walz, the newly announced vice-presidential pick by Kamala Harris for the upcoming election. In a scathing email on August 6, Trump lambasted Walz as potentially the "worst VP in history," surpassing even his criticisms of Harris herself.
"He'll unleash Hell on Earth and open our borders to the worst criminals imaginable," Trump wrote, accusing Walz of supporting extreme liberal policies that would lead to economic disaster.
On the same day, Harris, 69, revealed Walz as her running mate, a move that had been the subject of much speculation. "I share this background both because it's impressive in its own right, and because you see in no uncertain terms how it informs his record," Harris wrote on Instagram. "But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family: Gwen, Gus, and Hope. Doug and I look forward to working with him and Gwen to build an administration that reflects our shared values."
Walz, 60, responded with enthusiasm, posting on X, "It is the honor of a lifetime to join @kamalaharris in this campaign. I'm all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what's possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school. So, let's get this done, folks! Join us."
The selection has also garnered support from notable figures such as Barack and Michelle Obama. "By selecting Tim Walz to be her vice-president from a pool of outstanding Democrats, Kamala Harris has chosen an ideal partner - and made it clear exactly what she stands for," the Obamas stated. They highlighted Walz's achievements as governor, including helping families and businesses recover from the pandemic and implementing policies like paid family leave and common sense gun safety measures.
However, the Trump campaign has quickly moved to frame Walz as an extreme liberal. A list of talking points obtained by NBC News brands Harris-Walz as a "team of radicals." Dave McCormick, a Trump-backed Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, labeled the ticket as "the most liberal presidential ticket in history." This rhetoric is part of a broader strategy to paint Harris and Walz as out of touch with mainstream America.
"Kamala caved to the Hamas caucus and picked a charisma black hole with a long record of supporting extreme liberal policies and a history of being close to China," said a source close to the Trump campaign. In a post on Truth Social, Trump seemed jubilant about the news, writing simply, "THANK YOU!"
Other reactions within the GOP echoed similar sentiments, with consultants asserting that the Harris-Walz ticket is easier to label as far left compared to a Harris-Shapiro ticket, which was feared by many Republicans. "She outsmarted herself," said Matt Gorman, a veteran GOP operative. "Popular and charismatic governor in a must-win state was sitting right there. Passing him by, I just don't understand."
J.D. Vance, Trump's running mate, criticized the choice, saying, "The biggest problem with Tim Walz... is what it says about Kamala Harris - that when given an opportunity, she will bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party." He further claimed that Walz's pick showed Harris's tendency to yield to extreme left-wing elements.
Harris, whose husband Doug Emhoff is Jewish, portrayed Walz as a champion for the middle class. "It's personal," she wrote. "As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his own. We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election."
The Trump campaign released several statements framing the Harris-Walz ticket as a combination of failed policies and dangerous liberalism. "San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running-mate," said Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The campaign also circulated a video branding the pair as "failed, weak and dangerously liberal."
Despite the criticisms, Walz's selection has drawn praise from across the political spectrum. Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist former Democrat turned independent from West Virginia, said he could "think of no one better" to "bring balance back to the Democratic Party." Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, this year's Republican Senate nominee, posted on X that he has "always appreciated [Walz's] dedication to public service."
