Tim Walz: Trump ‘understands belonging'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) argued in a recent podcast appearance that part of President Trump's strength lies in his ability to foster a sense of community, especially among young men.
The comments from Walz, who ran unsuccessfully as former Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, came during an appearance on the 'Grounded' podcast hosted by former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and journalist Martisa Georgiou.
Asked by Georgiou about the GOP's efforts to reach high school students, Walz noted that Trump has excelled in reaching Americans who might feel disconnected from each other in an increasingly fragmented society.
'Social media and other things have disconnected people more than they were,' Walz said in the episode posted Thursday. 'We were more connected in my generation. It was easier to be a kid when I was growing up. And I've always said this as a teacher: If you don't give a kid a place to belong, they'll go find one.'
'I think Donald Trump understands belonging, understands groups,' he added. 'I mean, look at it. He gives them a uniform, the red hat. He gives them some chance….It's not all that different from when we build sports teams in high schools.'
Walz referenced his 18-year-old son Gus, who floated to him some of the reasons young people have supported Trump.
'I'm proud to say, it looks like as of next Tuesday I'm going to have a high school graduate with my son Gus,' Walz said on the podcast. 'And he's pretty in tune to this…He said, 'Dad, a lot of these young guys…they're not voting on the policy issues…They're doing it because there's a sense of excitement, a sense of thrill in this. It's entertainment or whatever.''
The governor's comments come as Democrats have grappled with how to reverse their losses with key demographics ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections. One of the most notable groups the party has struggled with in recent years is young men. A report released in May from the Democratic firm Catalist found a 9-point drop in support for Democrats among men aged 18 to 29 between 2020 and 2024.
Walz's appearance also comes amid mounting speculation that he's eyeing a White House bid in 2028. Over the weekend, he delivered an address to Democrats in South Carolina, their first-in-the-nation primary state.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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