Minnesota Governor Tim Walz didn’t hold back comments about Vice President JD Vance during a podcast appearance on Monday. On The Bulwark Podcast, the Democrat reflected on his performance in the 2024 vice presidential debate.
When host Tim Miller criticized how that debate went, Walz insisted things would be different if he had another shot. He told Miller he would “beat the sh*t out of” Vance if the two men agreed to a rematch today.
Walz explained that he feels his arguments are much stronger now.
READ: Trump: Minnesota Gov. Walz And I Are On ‘Similar Wavelength’ Regarding Crime
“I would call that out! I mean, that’s just different. In verbally going at it, I could,” Walz said. He admitted that during the 2024 debate, he got distracted by some of the stranger moments of the election cycle.
He specifically mentioned getting “sucked into” the viral stories about immigrants in Ohio eating pets. He said he took the bait on those stories instead of focusing on policy arguments like housing prices and federal lands.
The governor also confessed that he isn’t great at hiding his feelings. He compared himself to Vance, noting that the Vice President is a much smoother talker.
Walz said he couldn’t see a “tell” on Vance when he wasn’t telling the truth. “It was so smooth… like with me, oh, I’m a terrible liar. I’m a terrible poker player,” Walz admitted. He added that he views himself as a servant leader who tries to find compromise, rather than someone who seeks power for its own sake.
READ: Feds Target Walz And Frey In Minnesota ICE Obstruction Probe; Governor Fires Back
This interview came shortly after Walz agreed to speak with “Border Czar” Tom Homan, following a phone call with President Donald Trump. The governor has been in the headlines recently due to significant challenges back home.
He recently announced he would not run for re-election in 2026. That decision followed a major fraud scandal in Minnesota involving state funds, which investigations found was largely committed by people of Somali descent. Amidst that pressure, Walz told the podcast host that while he is usually effective, he is willing to take the criticism for his past debate performance.
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