In a recent campaign video, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, along with her running mate Tim Walz, showcased their rapport as they discussed their backgrounds, careers, and plans for the country if they win the upcoming election.
The conversation, which was candid and light-hearted, took a humorous turn when the topic shifted to tacos. According to The Cut, Walz mentioned his fondness for “white-guy tacos,” prompting Harris to ask, “What does that mean? Like, mayonnaise and tuna? What are you doing?” Walz explained, “Pretty much—ground beef and cheese.”
Harris responded with a grin, “That’s okay. Do you put any flavor in it?” When Walz replied with a simple “No,” Harris grimaced and chuckled, saying, “Oh,” to which Walz added, “Black pepper is the top of the spice level in Minnesota, ya know.” The exchange quickly drew attention online, with netizens offering a mix of reactions.
Some viewers appreciated the lighthearted banter and the chemistry between Harris and Walz, while others found the joke to be racially insensitive. “I’m Mexican, so I know what that ‘oh’ means,” one user commented sarcastically. Another joked, “And that’s when she decided he’s only allowed to bring cups and ice to the potluck.” An X user praised the balance in Harris’s reaction, writing, “The balance of ‘bless your heart’ and ‘I know you did not just say that’ is perfection.”
However, not everyone was amused. Right-wing conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich criticized Walz, calling him a “pathological liar” and pointing out that Walz had previously won a hotdish recipe contest in 2016, where he had used paprika and chili spice. “Geezus. On a hunch, I thought. Hmmm, I wonder if Tim Walz is lying about how people in Minnesota don’t season their food. He won a recipe contest in 2016,” Cernovich tweeted.
Other conservative figures also chimed in. Texas Senator Ted Cruz referenced a previous controversy, saying, “Hispanics are not tacos.” Ben Shapiro of the Daily Wire went on a rant, sarcastically noting, “See, folks, it’s funny that white people hate spices! Not racist at all! Just funny!” Fox News columnist David Marcus criticized the exchange, stating, “This isn’t cute.
Walz is being used as a clown to mock White people. If Walz doesn’t like spicy food that’s fine, but it has nothing to do with being a White guy.” Conservative author and speaker Ian Haworth argued that Walz’s comment would have caused outrage if it had been made by a Republican. Similarly, Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire slammed the exchange, calling it “blatant anti-white racism.”
Alt-right commentator Jack Posobiec added, “The Kamala campaign is now making videos mocking white people for ‘not seasoning their food,’ a popular anti-white meme online. Not even making this up.” The video has sparked a broader discussion about humor, race, and politics, with opinions divided across the political spectrum.