After Kamala Harris announced Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate, Trump and his fellow Republicans wasted no time in sending a sarcastic “thank you” to their opponent.
Just hours after Vice President Kamala Harris declared that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would join her in the race for the White House this year, former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account with a brief but pointed message: “Thank you!”
Trump later elaborated on his enthusiasm for Harris’s choice of running mate, suggesting that Governor Walz would “turn Earth into a living hell and throw open the borders to welcome the worst criminals,” casting Walz as a left-leaning candidate who supports loosening immigration controls.
Republican members and Trump’s advisory team echoed this sentiment, expressing relief and surprise at Harris’s decision. They believe that Trump, alongside his running mate JD Vance, will face an easier battle against the Harris-Walz ticket compared to a scenario where Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had been chosen as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate.
“It’s a mix of relief and astonishment at the opponent’s choice,” commented NBC’s Henry Gomez and Matt Dixon.
Dave Carney, a strategic advisor to Republican politicians and the leader of the pro-Trump super PAC “Save America,” expressed surprise that the Democrats bypassed Governor Josh Shapiro—a “young, dynamic, and persuasive” political figure.
Pennsylvania is a key battleground in this year’s presidential election. Had Shapiro been chosen as the vice-presidential candidate, the Democrats would have all but secured the state’s 16 electoral votes. Shapiro, a 51-year-old Jewish politician, boasts the highest approval rating among the last five Pennsylvania governors, according to a February poll by Franklin & Marshall College.
Fearing such a scenario, Trump selected Ohio Senator JD Vance, from Pennsylvania’s neighboring state, as his running mate.
“It seems like Harris overplayed her hand,” commented Matt Gorman, a Republican lobbyist, on Harris’s choice. Shapiro, a popular and charismatic governor, leads a state every candidate must win—he was the obvious choice. But she overlooked him. I truly don’t get it.”
According to an NPR survey last week, Walz remains relatively unknown to many American voters outside of his home state of Minnesota, with about 70% of registered voters admitting they had never heard of him. In contrast, 51% were unfamiliar with Governor Shapiro, and 50% with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
The Republicans are seizing this opportunity to shape the initial perception of Walz among American voters. They are particularly focused on the unrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the 2020 protests against police brutality following George Floyd’s death, according to insiders.
Dave McCormick, a Republican Senate candidate from Pennsylvania, criticized the Harris-Walz ticket as the “most left-leaning in U.S. election history.” Zack Roday, a Republican strategist, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Harris chose a running mate who mirrors her own progressive stance.
Vance went further, labeling his direct opponent as “far-left” and “extreme,” much like Harris.
In an interview with Elon Musk on the evening of August 12th, Trump escalated the rhetoric, calling Harris a “crazy leftist” and Walz a “far-left, anti-Israel” figure.
Trump accused Walz of enacting radical policies in Minnesota, highlighting a law passed last year that mandates free menstrual products in all school restrooms, both male and female.
Her running mate signed a law providing tampons in boys’ restrooms,” Trump said. “Yes, that’s absurd,” Musk responded. And that means she supports it too,” Trump added. “It’s just not right,” Musk agreed.
Republican critiques of Walz’s “leftist” label primarily target the legislation he approved in Minnesota in 2023, according to Vox.
After Democrats gained control of both legislative chambers in Minnesota during the 2022 midterms, they, alongside Governor Walz, pushed through a series of progressive laws. These included tax cuts for families with children, tuition support, funding for free school meals, worker protections, and mandatory paid family and sick leave.
The Democratic-controlled Minnesota legislature also passed sensitive policies that Republicans have tried to block in other states, such as protecting abortion rights and healthcare benefits for transgender individuals.
Walz further signed off on judicial reforms requiring background checks for gun buyers, legalized recreational marijuana use, restored voting rights for ex-felons, allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, and provided tuition assistance.
Additionally, under Walz’s governorship, Minnesota accelerated its shift to renewable energy, increased public spending on infrastructure, schools, social housing, and community safety, and raised taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
While the Democratic Party remains divided on the Gaza conflict, Walz has maintained a relatively neutral stance, rarely discussing the issue. In contrast, Governor Shapiro, a Jewish politician who volunteered in Israel during high school, has shown strong support for Israel and condemned student protests against the Gaza conflict across the U.S.
Harris’s choice of Walz over Shapiro indicates her intent to avoid internal Democratic divisions over Gaza during the campaign, according to observers.
“Many believe Harris passed over Shapiro out of fear of the anti-Semitic sentiments within the party. They’re worried about this voter base and fear some leaders and activists wouldn’t accept a Jewish candidate,” Vance stated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Harris has shown she’s willing to bow to the most extreme elements of her party.”
Dave Carney, head of the “Save America” super PAC, remarked that Harris choosing Walz as her running mate is like “a gift for us in battleground states,” pushing undecided voters toward the Republicans.
John McLaughlin, a pollster with Trump’s campaign, shared a similar view, suggesting that Harris made a critical mistake with her “first major decision as the party’s candidate.
“Fantastic. This choice is too good for us. You couldn’t write a better script than this,” commented Tom Emmer, the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.
However, some experts argue that Walz’s pursuit of a progressive agenda as Minnesota’s governor might help Harris garner support from rural voters in the Midwest, allowing her to counter accusations of being an out-of-touch big-city elitist.
A safe and intriguing choice. No other candidate brings the online energy that Walz does; he’s ignited the enthusiasm of young Democratic voters. At the same time, he faces no opposition within the party,” said E.J. Dionne Jr., a Washington Post columnist.
