Minnesota Governor Tim Walz left many viewers stunned during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate when he made the shocking statement that he had “become friends with school shooters.” The remark, which was meant to showcase his perspective on gun control, quickly ignited a wave of backlash across social media and even drew criticism from the father of a school shooting victim.
“Walz became friends with school shooters?” right-wing talk radio host Megyn Kelly questioned on X, echoing the confusion and disbelief felt by many. U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) also expressed her shock, posting, “Did I just hear that?!”
The comment occurred as Walz was discussing his history with firearms and his support for the Second Amendment. Trying to position himself as a moderate on the issue, Walz described his upbringing around guns. “I’m of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice,” he said. Walz emphasized that finding a balance between gun rights and child safety was crucial, adding, “There’s a capacity to find solutions on this that work—protect the Second Amendment, protect our children—that’s our priority.”
Despite his efforts to clarify his stance on gun control, Walz’s “friends with school shooters” comment quickly overshadowed the rest of his message. The statement caught the attention of GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who called it “the worst line in any 2024 debate.”
The most poignant response came from Andrew Pollack, whose daughter was tragically killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting. Pollack’s reaction was swift and emotional. “My daughter was killed in the Parkland school shooting,” he wrote on social media. “It’s absolutely abhorrent that Tim Walz has befriended school shooters. Disqualifying.”
Walz’s attempt to connect with a broad audience on the topic of gun control inadvertently sparked outrage, particularly among those most affected by school shootings. As the debate continued to unfold, his comment continued to spread like wildfire across social platforms, further fueling the controversy.
While Walz aimed to present himself as a gun owner who could bridge the divide on the contentious issue of firearms, the fallout from his misstep has left many questioning his phrasing and how it may affect his candidacy going forward.