Tim Walz, the Democratic Governor of Minnesota, faced backlash on social media last week after a clip circulated in which he told a gathering of Democrats that socialism can be interpreted as “neighborliness.” This remark gained renewed scrutiny following his announcement as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate on Tuesday morning.
“Never apologize for our progressive ideals,” the Minnesota Democrat stated during a “White Dudes for Harris” call. “For some, socialism is simply another form of neighborliness.”
This comment drew significant criticism from conservatives on Twitter, including Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, who reacted on X with a simple “weird,” alluding to recent Democratic attacks against GOP presidential candidate JD Vance and former President Trump.
“Neighborliness was responsible for the loss of family members,” journalist Karol Markowicz tweeted on X.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is viewed as a leading contender for VP alongside Kamala Harris.
The clip resurfaced on Tuesday morning shortly after news broke of Walz being selected as Harris’ running mate.
“This is the most radical ticket we’ve seen in American history,” GOP Senator Mike Lee posted on X.
“This is the most extreme ticket ever,” asserted the Senate Republicans’ X account.
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Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a press conference following the fatal shootings of two police officers and a first responder on February 18, 2024, in Burnsville, Minnesota.
“Walz’s claim that socialism is simply ‘neighborliness’ is a falsehood that neglects the difficult experiences many families have endured under socialist regimes,” Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares commented on X.
“My own relatives were imprisoned in Cuba, victims of a regime that disguises oppression as community support,” he added. “Socialism stifles dissent, eroding freedoms and ultimately failing to fulfill its promises. This represents a serious threat to our American values.”
Vice President Kamala Harris (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt/Pool)
“That’s the most incriminating quote against a progressive I’ve encountered for a long time!” Author Justin Hart posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office and the Harris campaign for comments but did not receive a response.
Walz, 60, was selected as Harris’ running mate after weeks of speculation that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would ultimately be the choice.
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Walz is a former member of the U.S. Army National Guard and a previous teacher who has become a prominent advocate for Harris in recent weeks. He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, was a football coach, and served as a union member at a Minnesota high school prior to entering politics. Recently, he labeled former President Trump and his ally JD Vance as “weird,” a term that has gone viral and was embraced by Harris’ campaign.
A former congressman from a Republican-leaning district, Walz has shown appeal with rural white voters while also supporting progressive initiatives as governor, including free school meals and expanded paid leave for workers. Although Minnesota leans Democratic, it is adjacent to crucial battlegrounds like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Reuters contributed to this report
