- Walz in first speech as Harris's vice on course for confrontation
In his first speech as Kamala Harris' running mate, Tim Walz launched a verbal assault on the Republican side. Among those in his crosshairs was Donald Trump's VP pick, J.D. Vance, whom he skewered with sarcastic remarks: "Like all normal people I grew up with in the heartland, J.D. went to Yale, had his career funded by billionaires, and then wrote a bestseller bashing the people of his hometown," Walz said.
Walz also went below the belt with another jab at his rival: "I can't wait to debate that guy - if he gets off the couch." The zinger refers to a crude joke circulating online about Vance.
Just hours earlier, Harris had announced Walz as her VP pick, following weeks of speculation. They made their first joint campaign appearance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they were greeted with thunderous applause.
Walz also took aim at Trump, accusing him of fostering "chaos and division." "Donald Trump isn't fighting for you or your family," Walz said. "He's never sat at a kitchen table like the one I grew up at, wondering how to pay the bills. He's in his Mar-a-Lago country club, figuring out how to cut taxes for his rich friends."
Walz positioned himself and Harris as the political antithesis. "She believes in the chance for everyone to climb into the middle class. She believes in the promise of America. We just have to fight," Walz said. He thanked Harris for her trust and, looking around the room, "maybe even more for bringing the joy back."
A 60-year-old former teacher and longtime representative, Walz has been Minnesota's governor since 2019. In his speech, he highlighted his upbringing in rural Nebraska and his time in the National Guard.
In the heat of the US election campaign, Tim Walz criticized J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate, for his privileged background and perceived betrayal of his hometown. Walz further expressed his eagerness for a debate with Vance, subtly referencing a derogatory meme about the Republican nominee.
