Quick Hit:

Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz faced a wave of online mockery following a statement made at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday. Walz told the crowd, “We can’t afford four more years of this,” sparking confusion and criticism, particularly from conservative commentators, who saw the remark as an accidental jab at his own running mate.

Key Details:

• During a rally in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Tim Walz was discussing gun violence when he veered off course, calling attention to an audience member who seemed to need water.

• After briefly pausing his speech, Walz resumed and criticized former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance before stating, “We can’t afford four more years of this.”

• The ambiguous nature of his comment led to ridicule on social media, with conservative voices like Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump War Room account mockingly suggesting Walz had unintentionally endorsed Trump.

Diving Deeper:

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate, found himself at the center of an online roasting after a remark during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday left many scratching their heads. Walz was addressing the issue of gun violence when he became momentarily distracted by an attendee who appeared to need water. After calling for help for the individual, Walz returned to his speech and attempted to refocus on the upcoming election saying, “We can’t afford four more years of this.” 

Conservative commentator Rita Panahi took to X (formerly Twitter) to joke, “Dude is campaigning for Trump now?” Donald Trump Jr. also got in on the action, replying humorously with, “I’m with Him/Tim.” The Trump campaign’s War Room account was more pointed, posting, “WALZ FINALLY TELLS THE TRUTH: ‘We can’t afford four more years’ of Kamala Harris.”