Latest news with #Walz
The Hill
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Walz: Democrats need to be a ‘little meaner'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said his fellow party members need to be a bit more harsh in upcoming elections to put an end to political intimidation. After an unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency in November, Walz has shared staunch criticism of Elon Musk and other officials within the Trump administration. 'I'm getting called out on this because I called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator — it's because he is. It's because he is,' Walz said Saturday during his keynote address for the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention. He said people alleged that his comments were 'mean.' 'Well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner. Maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this,' Walz said, urging critics to rebuke the Trump administration's policies. Walz's words were echoed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) during his remarks at the annual South Carolina Democrats' Blue Palmetto Dinner Friday night. 'I want to be clear: We can and we must condemn Donald Trump's reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience,' Moore, a first-term governor, said during his roughly 30-minute speech to the state party's officials and activists. 'Donald Trump doesn't need a study to dismantle democracy or use the Constitution like a suggestion box. Donald Trump doesn't need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that raise the cost of virtually everything in our lives,' he added. Walz and Moore also made an appearance at Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-S.C.) annual fish fry Friday night, an event known to be dazzled by presidential hopefuls. The Maryland governor said he would not run for the Oval Office next election cycle but party members have floated him as a viable leader for 2028. On Saturday, Walz said that any work geared towards ensuring a Democratic win in the next presidential campaign would need to start soon. 'It starts this Saturday as us starting to organize. Donald Trump ran for president for four years after he got beat in 2020. The Republican Party ran for four years. Their school board members ran for four years. All of those things were happening,' the Minnesota governor said. 'And what I know about our party is we know how to work. We're people with grit and resilience. We know how to get things done,' he added.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz calls Trump ‘a weak, cruel man' at rally
Watch Walz spoke to a crowd today in South Carolina, telling the audience that Trump 'punches down at people' and referred to him as 'a dictator.'
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Bully the S***' Out of Donald Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged his Democratic colleagues to "change the attitude" of the party and "bully the s***" out of President Donald Trump in an effort to pass long-standing left-wing goals and policies. Newsweek reached out by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for comment. Why It Matters The Democrats have offered competing visions for the future of the party after then-Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, in which the Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives and took control of the Senate, both of which they hold by slim margins. Leadership, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, have urged patience as the Republicans roll out their agenda, which Jeffries and Schumer believe will prove unpopular with the public and damage Trump and the GOP going into the 2026 midterm elections. However, some Democrats, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who twice ran to be the Democratic nominee for president, have urged more action from their party and colleagues. What To Know Walz, who was Harris' vice presidential running mate and a former public school teacher, spoke at Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina's Friday night fish fry and delivered a serious message to those in attendance, including many of his Democratic colleagues. Walz spoke of "wannabe dictators and despots" and slammed Trump for "corruption" and "cruelty" in his second administration. He told those gathered that the Democratic Party needs to "change the attitude, compete in every district, compete for every school board seat." On Saturday, Walz spoke at the state's Democratic Party convention where he gave a keynote speech, calling on his party to change its thinking. "Maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce because we have to ferociously push back on this," he said, to applause from the crowd. "And again, I'll speak to my teacher colleagues in here. The thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a when it's a child you talk to him and you tell him why bullying's wrong, but when it's an adult like Donald Trump you bully the s*** out of him back," Walz said. "You push back, you make sure they know it's not there, because at heart—at heart, this is a weak, cruel man that takes it out and punches down on people." The governor added: "What they don't want to do is stand toe-to-toe and punch back with someone who's calling him out for what they do who's being there." Walz also called Trump "the existential threat that we knew was coming," adding that Trump is a "cruel man" and warning that the remainder of his second term will "be a challenging few years." "Damnit, we should be able to have some fun and be joyful," Walz said. "We've got the guts, and we need to have it to push back on the bullies and the greed." Walz has not indicated if he intends to head up his own bid for president in 2028, in which he may run against Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and a host of other Democrats as the party remains largely rudderless seven months after the loss to Trump. Walz, while lacking the same national exposure that some of his potential rivals have commanded this year, remains actively engaged across the country. He has headlined a DNC series called "the People's Town Halls" around the country, speaking to crowds in Republican districts that had thin margins in the 2024 elections and have a potential to flip back to Democrats in 2026. "For the past few weeks, I've been showing up where Republicans won't," Walz wrote in a recent message, a theme he echoed on Saturday in South Carolina. "I've hosted town halls in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas to hear from people the GOP is neglecting." AtlasIntel, touted by some, such as veteran pollster Nate Silver, as the most accurate polling firm in the U.S., released data on Friday indicating that Buttigieg has a commanding lead as the likely candidate for Democrats in 2028 if voters picked today. In their polling, Walz did not feature at all, but the pollster may not have included him in their options, as the question was posed as "provided these were the candidates." Newsweek reached out to AtlasIntel outside of normal business hours by email on Saturday for clarification and comment. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks at a town hall meeting at the DeYor Performing Arts Center on April 7 in Youngstown, Ohio. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks at a town hall meeting at the DeYor Performing Arts Center on April 7 in Youngstown, People Are Saying Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on January 1: "Happy New Year, Minnesota! More grateful than ever to have the privilege of serving this great state. Looking forward to the work ahead in making Minnesota the best place to live, work, and raise a family." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York at a Las Vegas rally in March: "This isn't just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too. But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand up for the working class." Mary Ann Bennett, who attended Ocasio-Cortez's Denver rally with Sanders, previously told Newsweek: "The Democratic Party has not been taking strong actions for the working class. Bernie and AOC acknowledged this, which is step one, and then laid out their plans for action which were met with strong cheers from the 30,000 people who showed up. Those moments were when I felt the most empowered and ready to fight for my neighbors." Former Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking about her plans earlier this year while visiting sites impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, said: "My plans are to be in touch with my community, to be in touch with the leaders and figure out what I can do to support them...I am here and would be here regardless of the office I hold, because it is the right thing to do, which is to show up in your community and thank the folks who are on the ground." What Happens Next? Candidates are likely to wait until after the 2026 midterm elections to declare their intention to run for president, but speculation about the field of candidates will remain—and most likely ramp up—in the months ahead. This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Be Meaner,' Calls Trump 'Cruel'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to delegates at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention on Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina. Credit - Meg Kinnard—AP Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shared some stark words for Democrats on Saturday, calling for his fellow party members to "be a little meaner" in the pushback against President Donald Trump. 'It's because he is,' Walz said at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, addressing why he called Trump a 'wannabe dictator.' Walz ran as the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee with then-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris against Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in 2024. The former public school teacher was initially praised during the election for his relatability and Midwestern appeal. ''Oh, the Governor's being mean,' well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce,' Walz said. 'We have to ferociously push back on this…the thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully.' When the bully is a child, you teach them why bullying is wrong, Walz explained, but when the 'bully is an adult like Donald Trump, you bully… him back.' 'At heart, this is a weak, cruel man,' Walz said of Trump. Walz's comments come amid wider efforts among the Democratic Party to step toe-to-toe with Trump's far-reaching and sweeping changes at the federal government, which have seen him attempt to flex his executive power in unprecedented ways. Other efforts from the Democratic Party and beyond include work by progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are currently holding rallies across the U.S. as part of their 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, in an attempt to push back against and highlight the growing power of wealthy individuals in and around Trump's government. Read More: Sen. Bernie Sanders Issues Stark Warning About Trump During Surprise Coachella Appearance Meanwhile, leaders like Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are looking for ways to rebuild the Democratic Party, leaning further into economic populism in order to win elections, especially after the economy loomed so large during the 2024 campaigns. As the left is rocked by just the first few months of Trump's second term at the White House, Democratic leaders seem eager to embrace new ideas in the hope they can rebound in 2026 and—eventually—2028. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Gov. Tim Walz Suggests It's Time for Democrats to ‘Be a Little Meaner,' Calls Trump a ‘Cruel Man'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shared some stark words for Democrats on Saturday, calling for his fellow party members to "be a little meaner" in the pushback against President Donald Trump. 'It's because he is,' Walz said at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, addressing why he called Trump a 'wannabe dictator.' Walz ran as the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee with then-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris against Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in 2024. The former public school teacher was initially praised during the election for his relatability and Midwestern appeal. ''Oh, the Governor's being mean,' well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce,' Walz said. 'We have to ferociously push back on this…the thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully.' When the bully is a child, you teach them why bullying is wrong, Walz explained, but when the 'bully is an adult like Donald Trump, you bully… him back.' 'At heart, this is a weak, cruel man,' Walz said of Trump. Walz's comments come amid wider efforts among the Democratic Party to step toe-to-toe with Trump's far-reaching and sweeping changes at the federal government, which have seen him attempt to flex his executive power in unprecedented ways. Other efforts from the Democratic Party and beyond include work by progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are currently holding rallies across the U.S. as part of their 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, in an attempt to push back against and highlight the growing power of wealthy individuals in and around Trump's government. Meanwhile, leaders like Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are looking for ways to rebuild the Democratic Party, leaning further into economic populism in order to win elections, especially after the economy loomed so large during the 2024 campaigns. As the left is rocked by just the first few months of Trump's second term at the White House, Democratic leaders seem eager to embrace new ideas in the hope they can rebound in 2026 and—eventually—2028.
