Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz sparked social media buzz on Saturday after a statement during his speech in Pennsylvania was taken out of context. While addressing rallygoers in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Walz declared, “We can’t afford four more years of this,” which led to a wave of mockery online.
Walz, who is running alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, had been discussing gun violence when he noticed a rally attendee in need of water. Diverting from his prepared remarks, Walz took a moment to check on the individual, stating, “We need some water, can we get a check on him?”
Returning to his speech, Walz criticized former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. He emphasized that Harris was committed to addressing gun violence and other pressing issues, contrasting this with Trump’s approach.
“I’ll bring it home here quick, folks: Look, Kamala Harris made it clear these guys want to instill fear,” Walz said. “They want to tell you to just get over it, that this is a fact of life. But [Harris] has said it doesn’t have to be this way. We can’t afford four more years of this.”
Although Walz was likely referencing gun violence or Trump’s rhetoric, the phrasing left enough ambiguity for conservative commentators to mock the statement, interpreting it as a critique of the current administration.
Rita Panahi, a conservative commentator, quipped on X (formerly Twitter), “Dude is campaigning for Trump now?”
Even Donald Trump Jr. joined in, replying, “I’m with Him/Tim.”
The Trump War Room account further amplified the joke, tweeting, “WALZ FINALLY TELLS THE TRUTH: ‘We can’t afford four more years’ of Kamala Harris.”
Despite the online roasting, Walz continued his rally, focusing on key issues like gun control and Project 2025, which the Trump campaign has distanced itself from.