During a Wednesday morning appearance on Fox News, former President Donald Trump spoke out. He expressed sharp criticism toward the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Trump labeled them as “communist” and hinted at the possibility of a debate with Harris, despite his recent withdrawal from a previously scheduled debate.
Trump revisited a past interaction with Walz from April 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He claimed that Walz had called him out of fear of protesters outside his home. At the time, Trump tweeted: “Received a very nice call from @GovTimWalz of Minnesota. We are working closely on getting him all he needs, and fast. Good things happening!” However, contemporary reports indicated that Walz’s call was primarily about securing personal protective equipment (PPE) and increasing testing capacity for Minnesota, rather than concerns over protesters. Walz’s spokesperson, Claire Lancaster, confirmed that the call focused on PPE and testing, not protests.
In addition to revisiting his claims about the 2020 call, Trump echoed familiar Republican criticisms of Walz and Harris. He asserted that Walz was excessively liberal and implied that Harris had rejected Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as a running mate because of his Jewish faith. During the interview on “Fox & Friends,” Trump reiterated a controversial statement he has made before, which has drawn accusations of antisemitism: “any Jewish person who voted for Democrats ‘should have their head examined.'”
Criticism of Walz’s Governance
Trump also criticized Walz’s handling of Minnesota’s response to various crises during his tenure as governor. He suggested that Walz’s leadership had been lacking, particularly in dealing with issues such as public safety and the economy. Trump argued that Walz’s policies were contributing to a decline in the quality of life for Minnesotans, though he did not provide specific examples during the interview. This criticism aligns with broader Republican critiques of Democratic governance in states like Minnesota, where they argue that progressive policies have led to increased crime and economic instability.
“He’s probably about the same as Bernie Sanders,” Trump said of Walz’s political stance. “He’s probably more so than Bernie Sanders. She is more so than Bernie Sanders. That’s got to be your guy, Bernie Sanders, and that’s not a great guy. But there has never been a ticket like this. This is a ticket that would want this country to go communist immediately, if not sooner. We want no security. We want no anything. He’s heavy into transgender.”
Trump also indicated that he will debate Harris, despite his recent decision to withdraw from an upcoming debate on ABC News, proposing Fox News as an alternative platform. “I don’t know how she debates. I heard she’s sort of a nasty person,” he remarked, using an insult he has previously directed at several women, including Hillary Clinton, former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, and ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott. “But not a good debater. But we’ll see, because we’ll be debating her, I guess, in the pretty near future. It’s going to be announced fairly soon.”
He continued, “I’d love to see it on Fox, but, you know, it takes two to tango,” after referring to ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos as “Slopadopoulos.” “Look, she doesn’t want to debate.” Harris had already agreed to the ABC News debate and criticized Trump for backing out. “Well, Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage,” she said at a rally. “Because as the saying goes, ‘If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.’”
When asked by the Fox News hosts to respond to Walz’s criticism at a rally, where Walz claimed Trump “never sat at that kitchen table like the one I grew up at, wondering how we were going to pay the bills,” Trump defended his record. Walz had contrasted his own experiences with those of Trump, who he said “sat at his country club in Mar-a-Lago wondering how he could cut taxes for his rich friends.”
In response, Trump asserted that he had built businesses and created jobs, though he falsely claimed that his administration was “the most successful administration from the economy standpoint there ever was.” He also pointed to the current inflation under President Joe Biden’s administration. “I was not always sitting at Mar-a-Lago, either,” he added. “I was sitting at lots of other places.”
Trumps Combative Stance
In this latest round of political exchanges, Trump continues to maintain his combative stance against his opponents. His remarks on Harris and Walz reinforce familiar narratives, while his proposed debate with Harris, despite recent withdrawals, signals ongoing tensions as the political landscape evolves. The criticism of Walz’s governance, particularly in Minnesota, adds another layer to Trump’s broader critique of Democratic leadership in the United States.
