Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been facing an increasingly rough media landscape, and his latest appearances have done little to improve his standing. As the running mate of Kamala Harris, Walz has been thrust into the national spotlight, but recent interviews have not gone as planned. After a disastrous outing on “Fox News Sunday” and an even more damaging “60 Minutes” interview, Walz found himself on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, hoping for a break from the tough questioning. Instead, he stumbled again, making a bizarre comment about Harris that left viewers scratching their heads.
Walz’s rocky week began on “Fox News Sunday,” where Shannon Bream took him to task on several fronts. Known for her incisive questioning, Bream didn’t let Walz off easy. She pushed him hard on the claims his campaign has made, particularly on his economic policies. What stood out most, however, was her challenge to Walz’s credibility, highlighting several occasions where he had been caught either exaggerating or outright lying. It was a tough moment for the governor, and it was clear he struggled to maintain his composure under the pressure.
Walz was particularly pressed on his handling of Minnesota’s paid leave policies. He touted his administration’s support for expanding paid leave, but Bream wasn’t buying it. She called him out on what she and many others see as inconsistencies in his statements. Following the interview, a KSTP reporter and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce took to social media, blasting Walz for misleading the public about the actual state of paid leave in Minnesota. The timing couldn’t have been worse, and it set the tone for what would be a tough week ahead for the governor.
The following day, Walz’s “60 Minutes” interview aired, and it was nothing short of a disaster. Interviewer Scott Pelley pressed Walz on his claims about the economy and public policy, and the governor struggled to provide convincing answers. Most notably, Walz was called out for overstating the impact of his administration’s policies on Minnesota’s recovery from the pandemic. As with his “Fox News Sunday” appearance, the lies started to pile up, and the governor found himself on the defensive.
One of the most damning moments came when Walz was questioned about his statements on paid leave. Pelley, echoing concerns raised by Minnesota business leaders, pointed out that Walz had made inaccurate claims about the number of workers benefiting from new policies. The fallout was swift, with critics both in and outside of Minnesota slamming the governor for misleading the public. The interview not only hurt Walz’s credibility but also raised serious questions about his ability to effectively lead at the national level.
After these tough outings, Walz may have been looking for a reprieve when he sat down with Jimmy Kimmel. Known for his light-hearted interviews with politicians, Kimmel’s show was expected to provide a friendly environment for the embattled governor. However, even in this relaxed setting, Walz couldn’t escape controversy.
From the outset, it was clear that Kimmel wasn’t going to press Walz on any serious issues. Instead, the interview was more of a sycophantic lovefest, with Kimmel praising Walz in an exaggerated manner. “I think I speak for a lot of people when I say we like you a lot,” Kimmel said, before offering an odd compliment: “You seem to me like the kind of guy who cleans the lint out of the dryer after every use.” The exchange was awkward, to say the least, and did little to dispel the notion that Walz was seeking an easy out after his rough week.
The real low point of the interview came when Walz made a strange comment about his running mate, Kamala Harris. When asked about the upcoming election, Walz declared, “I plan on waking up on November 6 with Madam President.” The comment was met with an immediate correction from Kimmel, who jokingly clarified, “Just to be clear — you won’t be waking up together.”
The exchange, while light-hearted, felt out of place, and Walz’s response only made things worse. Laughing off the correction, he said, “I have a problem about not being specific with my language, so thank you for that.” While it seemed like an attempt to shrug off his earlier missteps, the comment came off as tone-deaf, given his recent track record of misleading statements.
WATCH:
Tim Walz alludes to his chronic lying after a joke about "waking up" with Kamala Harris: "I have a problem about not being specific with my language" pic.twitter.com/iK4Nvurddi
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 8, 2024
The problem for Walz isn’t just a lack of “specificity,” as he tried to claim on Kimmel. It’s that he has been caught repeatedly stretching the truth, particularly on critical policy issues. His inability to provide clear, accurate answers during interviews is raising alarm bells for voters, and even a softball interview with Kimmel couldn’t erase the damage done by his previous media appearances.
Walz may have hoped that a few friendly laughs with Kimmel would turn things around, but the reality is that his ongoing credibility issues are unlikely to be swept under the rug. While Kimmel might have given him a pass, voters are likely to be less forgiving. If he continues to falter in the spotlight, Walz could find himself losing support not just from his critics, but from within his own base.
Tim Walz’s recent string of media appearances has been anything but smooth. From tough interviews that exposed his false claims to awkward moments on late-night TV, the Minnesota governor has struggled to present a clear, truthful message to the American public. As the election draws closer, Walz will need to do more than rely on friendly interviews if he hopes to regain trust and support from voters.