Minnesota Gov. and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz attended the Minnesota State Fair for the first time since being thrust into the national spotlight as Kamala Harris’ running mate.
The visit was a markedly different trip for Walz, with his campaign schedule and enhanced security protection limiting his usual freedom to enjoy the annual fair.
“I don’t get 12 days, which I normally get, and a little more of a disruption…. more disruption to the other folks, but it’s exciting. We’re getting to talk about Minnesota across the country,” Walz told reporters at the fair.
And he answered plenty of questions from reporters – none of which were actual questions. Instead, he got the usual softball questions that activist reporters lob at Democrats.
Except for one.
It was his response, or lack thereof, to a question about Hamas that ended up making headlines. Just hours before Walz’s visit to the fair, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that six hostages had been killed in Rafah after 11 months of Hamas captivity.
Despite being the running mate of the Democratic nominee and current vice president, Walz offered no response to reporters when asked for his reaction to the killings in Gaza, and instead immediately fled as if the question itself was an enemy combatant.
Social media users were quick to note his hasty retreat from the challenging questions.
Many were outraged by Walz’s refusal to comment.
