- Democrat Tim Walz as the antithesis to Team Trump
In one aspect, Kamala Harris (59) and Donald Trump (78) are surprisingly in agreement. Both presidential candidates chose running mates who have not yet been "burned out" on the international political stage. Both also have military backgrounds. However, the similarities between potential vice presidents J.D. Vance (39) and Tim Walz (60), whom Harris recently selected as her number two, end there.
Indeed, Timothy James "Tim" Walz can be seen as the antithesis, the exact opposite of Vance. Vance, at 39, is quite young but holds highly conservative views. Walz, while looking like the younger brother of former vice president and Bush confidant Dick Cheney (83), is actually an older, white man with progressive views.
One thing to note: At 60, Walz is only a year older than Harris and 18 years younger than Donald Trump. However, some might have suspected that the Democrats were looking for a conservative running mate for Harris based on his appearance alone.
But appearances can be deceiving. Since his nomination, numerous prominent supporters have deliberately or unintentionally clarified this. The former geography teacher and ex-football coach has advocated for abortion and LGBTQ rights, as well as stricter gun and climate laws in Minnesota during his two terms. These are three of Donald Trump's biggest hot-button issues, in which Walz seems to hold vastly different views.
The first barbs are thrown
At their first joint campaign appearance with Harris in Philadelphia, Walz was quick to point out further differences from the Trump/Vance duo. Trump, he said, was practically born with a golden spoon in his mouth at the country club in Mar-a-Lago. Vance, he added, "had his career funded by billionaires." Walz, according to the clear campaign strategy, is meant to appeal to the people and bring in more votes for the Democrats. He didn't resort to conciliatory, unifying rhetoric either. It's probably too late for that.
Prominent Trump opponents are certainly happy about Walz's choice and see it as a continuation of the momentum that began with the shift from Joe Biden (81) to Kamala Harris in mid-July. Julianne Moore (63), Jamie Lee Curtis (65), Bette Midler (78), and Cynthia Nixon (58) have already reacted on social media and celebrated the decision.
Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of multimillionaire Elon Musk (53), also reacted. This situation may deepen the divide between father and daughter, as Musk has recently emphasized his full support for Trump in the campaign. This may be an extreme case, but similar divisions are likely to harden in numerous less prominent U.S. families, well beyond the upcoming U.S. election.
The U.S. military played a significant role in Tim Walz's career, as he served as a commander in the Army National Guard for 24 years before entering politics. Despite Donald Trump's military background, their views on various issues, such as abortion, LGBTQ rights, and climate change, significantly differ, as Walz advocates for stricter regulations in Minnesota.
