The Trump campaign has attacked Vice President Harris’s selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, labeling him a “West Coast wannabe.” Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Trump’s campaign, released a statement criticizing the choice, claiming that Walz has been attempting to transform Minnesota into a version of California.
On Tuesday morning, Harris officially announced her choice of Walz as her running mate. Walz, a former House representative, emerged as an unexpected contender, gaining attention for his repeated jabs at Republicans, whom he called “weird,” a critique that Harris’s campaign has readily embraced.
The decision received positive feedback from both progressive and moderate factions within the Democratic Party. The Trump campaign took aim at Walz’s progressive policies, accusing him of merely pretending to care about Americans in the Heartland.
They highlighted his support for a carbon-free agenda, stricter emissions standards for vehicles, and voting rights for convicted felons, portraying these positions as part of a “dangerously liberal agenda.”
In a message to supporters, Trump’s campaign warned that “TIM WALZ WILL UNLEASH HELL ON EARTH.”
Last week, Trump had vowed to “unleash hell” at a rally in Atlanta, shortly after Harris visited the city. This rhetoric was echoed on a fundraising site, where Trump’s team continued to criticize Walz, claiming he would support Harris’s “GREEN NEW SCAM” and lead to a disastrous future.
As Harris and Walz prepare to campaign in key battleground states, starting with Philadelphia, Republicans are likely to focus on Walz’s stances on abortion and LGBTQ issues, casting him as a radical liberal similar to Harris.