Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign made headlines on Tuesday with a eyebrow-raising statement reacting to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) being selected as Kamala Harris’s running mate. The statement, released by Trump Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, took aim at Walz for his support of policies that would allow convicted felons to vote. The response quickly drew criticism and mockery online, given Trump’s own legal troubles.
Trump, who has been convicted on 34 charges related to falsifying business documents and covering up hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign, was the focus of intense backlash for his critique. The campaign’s statement lambasted Walz for supposedly embracing policies that align with what they described as a “California liberal” agenda. It read:
“It’s no surprise that San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running mate – Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State. While Walz pretends to support Americans in the Heartland, when the cameras are off, he believes that rural America is ‘mostly cows and rocks,’” the statement began, continuing: “From proposing his own carbon-free agenda to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide. If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare.”
This criticism sparked a wave of online ridicule, with many pointing out the irony of Trump’s stance. Notably, pundits and journalists highlighted the hypocrisy of attacking a policy that could potentially benefit Trump himself, should he reside in Minnesota.
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“The Trump campaign is attacking Tim Walz for restoring voting rights to convicted felons. Who… wants to tell them,” joked Jennifer Bendery of the Huffington Post.
George Conway, a Republican lawyer turned anti-Trump activist, added, “You would think that Trump would like the fact that Walz thinks convicted felons should be allowed to vote.”
Below are some additional reactions:
The Trump campaign is attacking Tim Walz for restoring voting rights to convicted felons.
Who… wants to tell them. pic.twitter.com/gFLB6OkGSW
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) August 6, 2024
You would think that Trump would *like* the fact that Walz thinks convicted felons should be allowed to vote. https://t.co/yX6f5t3sHS
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 6, 2024
Republicans: "He guaranteed free lunches to school children — and ignores the needs of billionaires. He's un-American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
— Michael B Lehrhoff (@mblehrhoff) August 6, 2024
Maybe leave the “allowing convicted felons” portion out next time, lads…
— Will Prapestis (@WillPrapestis) August 6, 2024
So is Donald Trump saying that he, a convicted felon, should not be allowed to vote?
(Photo credit: @nycsouthpaw) pic.twitter.com/p4ZCgOGSjQ
— Island Girl – 100% Pro-Choice, Vote Blue (@bluepolitics_) August 6, 2024
One would also assume that they are against convicted felons running for office.
— blackleaf (@blackleaf435870) August 6, 2024
