Tim Walz’s Family Allegedly Turn Against Him, Go Viral in ‘Walz’s for Trump’ Shirts

Political commentators were abuzz on social media Wednesday after a photo, allegedly depicting eight relatives of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz showing support for former President Donald Trump, went viral.

The image surfaced on Wednesday and was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Nebraska Republican Charles W. Herbster. It depicts eight individuals standing before a “Trump 2024: Take America Back” flag, all wearing navy blue T-shirts that read “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.” The New York Post has been unable to independently verify whether those in the photo are indeed relatives of Walz.

Rod Edwards, a political operative who spread the image, claimed that the people in the photo are related to Walz through his paternal great-uncle. However, he declined to provide their identities, stating they were overwhelmed by the sudden surge of attention. None of the individuals in the photo were willing to be named or speak to the media on Wednesday.

The Harris-Walz campaign has declined to comment on the situation.

The photo quickly gained traction on social media, particularly among conservative commentators. Podcaster Megyn Kelly questioned whether the photo would receive the same level of media coverage as critiques of Trump from his family members, such as Mary Trump and Kerry Kennedy.

Tim Walz has talked about having awkward political discussions with family members on Thanksgiving. AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in, pointing to the apparent discontent within Walz’s extended family. “In the last few days, Walz’s brother and multiple other members of his extended family have come out publicly against him and for Trump. Is anyone in the leftwing media going to cover this?” Trump Jr. wrote on X.

Greg Price, another conservative commentator, questioned Walz’s character in light of the photo, noting that several of his relatives are against his candidacy.

Tim Walz, born in West Point, Nebraska, and grew up in rural Valentine, has often spoken about his small-town upbringing. After moving to Minnesota in 1996, he maintained ties with his Nebraska-based family, including his sister, Sandy Dietrich, who told The Post that most of their immediate family members are Democrats, except their older brother Jeff.

Jeff Walz, 67, who now lives in the Florida Panhandle, has publicly criticised his brother’s political ideology on social media. On August 30, Jeff wrote on Facebook, “I’m 100% opposed to all his ideology,” and hinted at the possibility of making his disagreements with his brother more public.

As The Post had previously reported, Tim Walz’s brother Jeff bashed him on Facebook. AP

Since his posts gained widespread attention, Jeff Walz has expressed regret that his private remarks have become public, although he continues to stand by his views. “Sounds like a great guy!” former President Trump wrote on Truth Social after The Post reported on Jeff Walz’s comments.

A source familiar with the Walz family dynamic suggested that they had hoped Jeff would avoid speaking negatively about his brother to the media, especially with the upcoming November election.

Two of Donald Trump’s relatives have written books trashing the former president. AP

Jeff and Tim Walz have not spoken in eight years, a rift that Jeff mentioned on Facebook and reiterated in a recent interview with NewsNation. The strained relationship adds a personal element to the political discourse surrounding Tim Walz’s candidacy.

The Minnesota governor has previously joked on the campaign trail about the challenges of discussing politics with family, especially during Thanksgiving gatherings—a sentiment that now seems particularly relevant.

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