Tim Walz: A Rising Star in the Democratic Party
Since being named the Democratic nominee for vice president, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota has become a focal point in the political arena, particularly as the Trump campaign and its supporters have ramped up their attacks against him. A former teacher and football coach from Nebraska, Walz has a rich background, having served in the National Guard before stepping into the political spotlight.
Walz was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, and later he became the governor of Minnesota in 2018. His characterization of former President Donald J. Trump as “weird” earlier this year resonated with many Democrats and significantly elevated his profile, placing him prominently on Vice President Kamala Harris’s list of potential running mates.
The Republican narrative surrounding Walz has included a series of accusations aimed at undermining his re-energized campaign following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside. These accusations, which often include misleading claims about his military service and governance, are part of a broader strategy to diminish his appeal. Trump and his allies have criticized Walz’s handling of protests in Minnesota, his immigration policies, and have even misconstrued his remarks regarding a ladder factory and the redesign of the state flag.
Fact-Checking Claims Against Tim Walz
One of the most prominent claims made against Walz comes from Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who is the Republican nominee for vice president. During a rally in Philadelphia, Vance stated:
“Because if we remember the rioting in the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the guy who let rioters burn down Minneapolis.”
This statement is an exaggeration. While it is true that Walz faced significant criticism for his delayed response in deploying the National Guard to manage the civil unrest in Minneapolis following the tragic murder of George Floyd by a police officer, claims suggesting he took no action at all or that the city was allowed to burn are indeed hyperbolic.
The sequence of events began on May 25, 2020, when Floyd was murdered, spurring immediate protests that erupted on May 26. As tensions escalated, with some individuals vandalizing vehicles and setting fires, more than 700 state troopers and officers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources were deployed to assist local police in managing the escalating situation. This information has been corroborated by a 2022 independent assessment conducted by the state’s Department of Public Safety, which evaluated the response to the unrest.
