OPINION: Is blood thicker than water for the Walz family?
Photo via Charles W. Herbster
Ava Jelepis, a Freshman studying Journalism and Political Science, argues that for Tim Walz and his family, the juxtaposition of supporting family members and political ties gets murky.
What’s the number one topic we all know to avoid at Thanksgiving dinner? Politics.
Discussing politics with family is never really a good idea and rarely ends well, usually leaving someone upset. Politics, in general, is a topic that most people tend to avoid or feel uncomfortable discussing. Polls say that almost 1 in 5 voters report that politics have ruined a relationship for them with either a family member or a friend. Political views are sometimes even a factor when choosing a spouse, as research shows that people are typically more attracted to someone with the same political views.
If you know politics is a factor that would affect your relationship with a potential spouse or friend, you should, by all means, be open with them. However, we choose our friends, not our family. So what happens when family and politics are intertwined? This is the reality for Vice President Nominee Tim Walz, as a recent viral image shows that his family may not necessarily be on his side in this election season. But does the photo actually mirror the views of Tim Walz’s family, or is it just a post made to grab our attention?
The “Walz’s For Trump” photo first went viral on Sept. 4, when Charles W. Herbster tweeted the image with the caption, “Tim Walz’s family back in Nebraska wants you to know something…” Herbster is chairman of Rural Americans for Trump, as well as a former candidate for Nebraska's governor who had Trump’s endorsement photo showing the family wearing matching grammatically incorrect shirts and standing underneath a Trump flag.
Former President Trump later went on to repost the image on Truth Social, writing, “It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!” This photo quickly circulated around the internet and was reposted everywhere. Soon, there was an abundance of speculation about this photo and what exactly it meant for Walz.
“The *entire* family of Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz just endorsed TRUMP, This is the greatest troll of the 2024 election.” Right-wing political commentator Benny Johnson shared this quote and the viral photo on Twitter. Opponents of Walz were quick to share this post and use it against the vice presidential nominee. However, Walz’s family didn't stay silent for long. When asked about the image, Walz’s sister, Sandy Dietrich, said “We weren't close with them, we didn’t know them.”
Walz’s family was quick to shut down these deeply exaggerated and misleading claims that his entire family didn't support him and brought to light that the people in the photos were all just distant cousins he didn’t even know. So, the photo was debunked and no longer as jarring as it was made out to be, but the Walz family drama doesn't end there. Along with the lack of support from his distant cousins, Walz also lacks the support of his own brother.
Jeff Walz, Tim Walz’s estranged older brother, seems to make it clear that he does not support his little brother in his race for the White House. Jeff Walz took to Facebook, saying he is “100% opposed to all his ideology.” He told the media that he hadn't spoken to his younger brother in eight years. Jeff Walz also wrote that his brother was “not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.”
Since these posts, Jeff Walz has expressed regret and has said that Facebook was not the right platform on which to voice these opinions. Despite Trump’s claims, Jeff Walz has never actually formally endorsed the former president. Mother Darlene Walz supports Tim and has had enough of the family drama. Darlene Walz says she is confident that Tim “is going to be in the White House.”
All families have their issues, and all family members have their own opinions. They are entitled to that. Some may argue that family should come before anything, and Jeff Walz should support his baby brother. In contrast, others probably agree with Jeff for being able to express his own opinion, as he is estranged from the rest of his family.
Whichever way you decide to look at it, your family does have an impact on you when you are in the public eye. When you are a politician, the comments your family can put out can be either uplifting or devastating to your career. It may be best for families involved in politics to simply discuss their political opinions over Thanksgiving dinner, rather than with the entire nation.
Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.