Fact Check: Does Tim Walz's Family Support Donald Trump?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
A photo of Gov. Tim Walz's distant cousins wearing "Nebraska Walz's for Trump" shirts went viral. Jeff Walz, Tim Walz's older brother, also criticized Tim Walz on Facebook.
The Photo: The "Walz's for Trump" photo features descendants of Francis Walz, the brother of Tim Walz's grandfather. Tim Walz's sister, Sandy Dietrich, said, "We weren't close with them. We didn't know them."
Jeff Walz's Comments: Jeff Walz posted about Tim Walz: "[He's] not the type of character you want making decisions about your future," and "I’m 100% opposed to all his ideology." He also said he "thought long and hard" about publicly endorsing President Donald Trump. Jeff Walz later said, “It wasn’t my intent...to influence the general public.” He added, “I used Facebook [to clarify my views to friends], which wasn’t the right platform to do that. But I will say, I don’t agree with his policies.” President Trump posted on Truth Social, "Thank you very much, Jeff. It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!" Jeff Walz has not spoken to Tim Walz in eight years.
How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the left were more likely to include that those in the "Walz's for Trump" photo were distant cousins in the topline, while outlets on the right often led with "Walz's family" in the headline. Outlets on the right also quoted Jeff Walz's Facebook comments in their headlines, while outlets on the left were more likely to lead with his clarifications.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
That photo of people wearing ‘Nebraska Walz’s for Trump’ shirts? They’re distant cousinsA sister of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz says she doesn’t recognize the people wearing “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts in a photo that is making the rounds on social media. It turns out they are distant cousins.
The photo shows eight smiling people wearing navy pro-Trump shirts, underneath a “Trump 2024 — Take America Back” sign. The photo was eventually reposted by former President Donald Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social platform: “It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!”
From the Center
Exclusive: Jeff Walz clarifies comments, tells NewsNation he opposes Tim Walz’s viewsMinnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s older brother, Jeff, has admitted exclusively to NewsNation that he does not wish to influence voters despite his opposition to the Democratic vice presidential nominee’s views.
Jeff Walz’s Facebook posts caused a stir in both mainstream and social media as he described the Minnesota governor as “not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.”
Despite saying to his Facebook friends that he had “thought long and hard” about publicly endorsing former President Donald Trump, he now wishes to be uninvolved in any political campaign.
From the Right
PHOTO: Tim Walz's Family Members Reveal Support for Donald TrumpSeveral family members of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrat Party’s vice presidential nominee, have come out in support of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. A photo shared by Charles Herbster, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate for Nebraska, showed several people wearing blue t-shirts with the words, “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.” The people in the photo wearing shirts supporting Trump are related to Walz on his grandfather’s brother’s side, a representative confirmed to the Daily Mail. “Thank you very much, Jeff,” Trump wrote in his post. “It is...
AllSides Picks
September 16th, 2024
September 14th, 2024
September 12th, 2024
September 12th, 2024