Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, made headlines during a campaign rally on Tuesday in Pennsylvania when he was caught on camera wiping his nose with his hand—right in the middle of addressing a crowd.
The awkward moment comes at a crucial time, just weeks before the general election, as Walz campaigns across key swing states. The rally, aimed at addressing rural voters and outlining Walz’s plans for health care, economic recovery, and agricultural policies, quickly shifted focus once the viral moment hit social media.
Commentators and political adversaries wasted no time in using the clip to slam Walz. One user even labeled him a “slob,” while others from the Trump camp seized the moment to cast doubts on Walz’s leadership and attention to detail. The Trump War Room tweeted a succinct but biting comment: “Gross.”
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But the criticism of Walz’s behavior at his rally today wasn’t solely on a single moment of mishap. His remarks fed into a broader narrative that Democrats, including Walz, are out of touch with the daily struggles of ordinary Americans.
Walz also took a sharp jab at Trump during the rally to criticize Trump’s widely publicized act of handing a $100 bill to a grocery shopper in Pennsylvania. Walz ridiculed the gesture, implying it was a shallow political stunt designed to win votes rather than a genuine display of concern for struggling Americans.
“But he walks into this grocery store and he hands a hundred dollar bill to a lady to pay for his groceries,” Walz said. “I think it’s just natural. Any woman he sees, he pays off because he did something on there. I don’t know. But this is the one that caught my eye.”
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Back in September during his grocery store visit in Pennsylvania, Trump told the surprised shopper that his act of generosity was a promise to fight inflation and lower prices if re-elected. “We’ll do that for you in the White House,” Trump joked.
President @realDonaldTrump helps a mom of 3 pay for her groceries pic.twitter.com/33ifPk2cXI
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) September 23, 2024
Jenny Kantz, the mom of three, would later tell ‘Fox & Friends,’ “I’m gonna frame it.”
“We were hoping for an opportunity to meet him. And the fact that he handed us $100 was a complete surprise and it was a great experience,” Kantz said the next day.
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REACTIONS:
— Peace 2 You (@Peace2you44) October 15, 2024
Going home to burn my red and black flannel shirt…
— ✭Diggy97✭ (@MAGAShepsky) October 15, 2024
This is the most masculine thing i’ve seen him do thus far though lol.
— Melissa (@arizona_melissa) October 15, 2024
— Awakened (@BrandonHathaw12) October 15, 2024