Top 5 contentious moments of Tim Walz: From '30ft ladder factory' remark to labeling JD Vance 'weird'

Top 5 contentious moments of Tim Walz: From praising Chinese hospitality to labeling GOP VP pick 'weird'

Vice President Kamala Harris announced her running mate for the 2024 presidential election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during a recent rally in Philadelphia. The selection of Walz immediately stirred controversy, as various clips and headlines from his controversial past resurfaced, bringing to light his more radical stances. These revelations, fueled by support from far-left figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal, have sparked widespread debate. As the Harris-Walz campaign kicked off its swing-state tour, critics began scrutinizing Walz's statements and actions. Here are five notable moments from his career that have drawn criticism.

1. 'Weird' back and forth

One of the most talked-about moments of Walz's recent political career was his description of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as "weird." During a segment on MSNBC, Walz remarked, "These are weird people on the other side, they want to take books away, they want to be in your exam room, that's what it comes down to. Don't get sugarcoating this, these are weird ideas." This quip quickly went viral and became a rallying cry for Democrats across the nation. The Harris campaign embraced the remark, using it to criticize the Trump campaign's policies. However, the term "weird" did not go unchallenged. Donald Trump Jr fired back on social media, saying, "You know what’s really weird? Soft on crime politicians like Kamala allowing illegal aliens out of prison so they can violently assault Americans." Vance, too, leveraged the label during a rally in Atlanta, listing various policies supported by Harris that he deemed far more peculiar. Despite the backlash, Walz has continued to use the term "weird" in his public speeches, further cementing it as a key part of his campaign rhetoric. "These guys are creepy and yes, just weird as hell," he reiterated during the Philadelphia rally where he was introduced as Harris's running mate.

2. Socialism as 'neighborliness'

Walz's views on socialism have also sparked controversy, particularly a recent statement in which he likened socialism to "neighborliness." During a call with a group called 'White Dudes for Harris' last week, Walz encouraged his audience not to shy away from progressive values. "Don’t ever shy away from our progressive values," the Minnesota Democrat said. "One person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness." This remark quickly ignited backlash on social media, with critics arguing that Walz was downplaying the harsh realities of socialism. Journalist Karol Markowicz responded sharply on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Neighborliness killed members of my family." Similarly, Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares criticized Walz's statement as a misleading portrayal of socialism. "Walz's statement that socialism is mere 'neighborliness' is a lie that disregards the harsh realities countless families have faced under socialist regimes," Miyares posted. "Weird," Manhattan Institute senior fellow Ilya Shapiro added.

3. The '30-foot ladder factory' comment

Walz's stance on immigration, particularly his opposition to former president Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, has been another focal point of criticism. In a CNN interview, Walz suggested that instead of building a wall, he would invest in a "30-foot ladder factory" to help people overcome it. "He talks about this wall, I always say, let me know how high it is. If it's 25 feet, then I'll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory," Walz said. "That's not how you stop this." This was quickly seized upon by the Trump campaign and other conservative critics, who used it to attack both Walz and Harris. They pointed to Harris's role as "border czar" and criticized her handling of the immigration crisis. The "ladder factory" remark has since been used to argue that Walz and Harris are not serious about border security, a key issue for many voters.

4. Promoting debunked rumor

During a campaign event, Walz took a jab at Senator JD Vance by referencing a debunked rumor about Vance's book 'Hillbilly Elegy'. "I can't wait to debate this guy," Walz said. "That's if he's willing to get off the couch and show up. See what I did there?" The crowd's reaction and Harris's knowing smile suggested that they understood the reference, which alluded to a false rumor that Vance had claimed in his book to have had a sexual encounter with a couch. Although this rumor has been debunked by multiple fact-checkers, Walz’s use of it during a public speech marked the highest-profile instance of its spread. The quip drew criticism for perpetuating misinformation and for lowering the tone of the political discourse. Nonetheless, Walz seemed to relish in the moment, using it to energize his base and cast his opponent in a negative light.

5. Praise for Chinese hospitality

Another controversy that has resurfaced during Walz’s campaign is his 1990 remarks about his experience in China. In an interview with a local outlet, Walz praised the hospitality he received during a trip to China, saying, "No matter how long I live, I will never be treated that well again. They gave me more gifts than I could bring home. It was an excellent experience." These comments were made in the context of his visit shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, a time when China was under intense scrutiny for its human rights abuses. The timing of his remarks, so close to a major human rights atrocity, has been particularly damaging. Social media users were quick to attack Walz for his comments, and the backlash extended to his family. A clip of his wife, Gwen Walz, discussing the 2020 riots in Minnesota also went viral. "Again we had more sleepless nights during the riots," Walz's wife told KSTP in July 2020. "I could smell the burning tires, and that was a very real thing. And I kept the windows open as long as I could because I felt like that was such a touchstone of what was happening." Her comments were labeled as "weird" and "bizarre," Fox News reported.