A recent photo showing a group of people wearing “NEBRASKA WALZ’S FOR TRUMP” shirts has caused a stir, with even former President Donald Trump acknowledging the image as a “great honor” during a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity. However, it turns out the individuals in the picture are distant relatives of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, not close family members.
While Nebraska is indeed the state where Walz grew up, the people posing in the photo are distant relations. According to a report from The Associated Press, the individuals are “descendants of Francis Walz, who was brother to Tim Walz’s grandfather.”
Sandy Dietrich, Tim Walz’s sister, sought to clarify the situation, explaining that her side of the family, including herself, is firmly in the “Democrats for Tim” camp. Dietrich, who lives in Alliance, Nebraska, stated that while the people in the photo are part of the extended family, they are not close. “We weren’t close with them,” she said.
“We didn’t know them.” She also mentioned that their father, James Walz, passed away in 1984, when Tim Walz was still a teenager, adding to the disconnection between the branches of the family. The group behind the photo was reportedly connected to Charles Herbster, a former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate endorsed by Trump, who lost his primary race amid allegations of groping.
Walz, who is currently serving as the governor of Minnesota and has a background in the Army National Guard, teaching, and coaching football, has been the subject of right-wing opposition efforts since being named as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Despite these attempts, the search for controversies to tarnish his reputation has largely been unsuccessful.
One recent example of the odd claims being circulated against Walz came from his brother, who, although not supportive of his campaign, shared a trivial story about Walz getting carsick as a child as a supposed sign of lacking “character.”
While the photo has garnered attention, it appears to have little to do with Walz’s immediate family or his political beliefs. His sister’s clarification reinforces the divide between different branches of the Walz family and highlights the misunderstandings that can arise in the world of political campaigning.