Minnesota Governor Tim Walz delivered a strongly worded speech Monday at the Democratic Party’s summer strategy meetings in Minneapolis, criticizing both the media and President Donald Trump, as reported by Fox News.
Walz, who ran as former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate during the 2024 election, addressed party leaders as Democrats sought to unify amid internal divisions.
He accused the press of focusing too heavily on disputes inside the party instead of what he described as larger issues facing the nation.
Walz referenced the 2024 election loss, telling the crowd, “We know [Harris] was the most qualified and would have been a fantastic president.”
He added, “We wouldn’t wake up every day to a bunch of sh*t on TV and a bunch of nonsense. We would wake up to an adult with compassion and dignity and vision and leadership doing the work. Not a man-child crying about whatever’s wrong with him.”
The Minnesota governor reaffirmed Democratic commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, stating, “We’re not shying away from diversity as a strength and equity as a goal and inclusion being the air we breathe. That’s what we should be doing.”
At the same time, he directed frustration at the media. “It boggles my damn mind that in the midst of a military takeover of our cities and the attempt to go into others, their flaunting of the rule of law, the cruelness and the unconstitutional nature of the way they’re attacking our neighbors, that the press finds the need to talk about, ‘Oh, there’s a division in the Democratic Party,’” Walz said.
He compared the disagreements to arguments within a marriage, adding, “There’s a division in my damn house and we’re still married, and things are good. That’s life!”
Walz urged Democrats not to fight amongst themselves, declaring, “We can have our internal decision-making, our internal healthy debates. But – I refuse to believe – we do not have the luxury to fight amongst ourselves while that thing sits in the White House.”
He went on to contrast Republicans with Democrats, saying, “Think of how easy it would be to be a d— Republican. Oh, what should I wear today? This stupid fricking red hat? What should I say today? I don’t know, just make sure it’s cruel. Who do we listen to? That guy? Oh, the felon in the White House? Yeah, I listen to him, and that will be fine.”
Walz accused Trump of bringing fascist policies into the country. “I always get in trouble for it, I’ll continue to say it. I don’t think we do any favors when we don’t name it. These are fascist policies… That is what they are.”
He also criticized the president’s executive order cracking down on flag burning, suggesting Trump was concerned about flags bearing his likeness.
“Now he’s talking about burning flags. He’s going to have flag burning or whatever, because he knows there’s a hell of a lot of flags with his picture on it that are going to get burned. There’s a whole lot of that kind of crap that people are sick of,” Walz said.
Walz closed by calling on Democrats to focus on the future.
“A future that includes everyone, a future where our children are valued and lifted up, a future where immigrants are celebrated just like our grandparents and parents were, a future where we ask people to pay their fair share while we make life a little bit easier for others, and we find joy in the things that you find personally joyful and I don’t give a damn what your neighbor thinks about those things,” he said.
“Those are the things that we are here for.”
