The political landscape took an unexpected turn when family members of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz publicly voiced their support for Donald Trump. This endorsement from within the family circle has ignited conversations and drawn significant attention, especially after former President Trump himself acknowledged the endorsement on social media.
The saga unfolded when a photo surfaced online featuring eight individuals proudly displaying “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts, positioned beneath a prominent “Trump 2024 — Take America Back” banner. This image quickly gained traction and was notably reposted by Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Trump amplified the message, stating, “It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!” This public acknowledgment from Trump underscored the significance of this family endorsement in the political narrative.
Charles Herbster, a former gubernatorial candidate from Nebraska, initially shared the photograph on X (formerly Twitter). Herbster’s spokesperson, Rod Edwards, clarified that the individuals in the photo are indeed related to Governor Tim Walz, explaining they are descendants of Francis Walz, the brother of Tim Walz’s grandfather. This familial link confirmed that the “Nebraska Walz’s” are not just individuals with the same last name, but are in fact, cousins of the Democratic VP nominee.
The Nebraska Walz family further substantiated their endorsement and family connection in a written statement to The Associated Press. They explained their family gathering shortly after Tim Walz was announced as the Democratic Party’s Vice Presidential nominee. Expressing their support for President Trump and J.D. Vance, they commissioned custom T-shirts for a group photo. The family stated, “The picture is real. The shirts are real. We are the Nebraska Walz family and we are related to Gov. Tim Walz, our grandfathers were brothers. The message on the shirts speaks for itself, “Nebraska Walzs for Trump.”
However, the family division doesn’t stop with distant cousins. Sandy Dietrich, Tim Walz’s sister residing in Nebraska, confirmed the familial link to the “Nebraska Walz’s,” but admitted a lack of close relationship with that branch of the family. While Dietrich affirmed her support for her brother, identifying herself and her immediate family as “Democrats for Tim,” she also revealed another layer of family discord.
Tim Walz’s older brother, Jeff Walz, has also publicly expressed strong opposition to his brother’s political views. Reports from the New York Post highlighted Facebook comments where Jeff Walz voiced his dissent, stating he is “100% opposed to all his ideology” and even considered endorsing Trump. He further added, regarding his brother’s character, “Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.”
In a subsequent interview with NewsNation, Jeff Walz walked back some of his earlier, harsher comments, clarifying that his frustration stemmed from learning about his brother’s VP nomination through the radio. He downplayed the severity of his “stories” remark, explaining they were lighthearted childhood anecdotes. Jeff Walz mentioned a strained relationship with the governor, stating they haven’t spoken since their younger brother’s funeral in 2016, barring a brief call initiated by their mother. Despite his clarifications, the initial comments from Jeff Walz, combined with the Nebraska cousins’ public endorsement of Trump, paint a picture of significant family political divergence.
This public split within the Walz family, encompassing both distant cousins and an older sibling, adds a unique dimension to the political narrative surrounding Tim Walz’s Vice Presidential candidacy. While family endorsements are not uncommon, public opposition from family members, especially those actively supporting the opposing candidate, creates a noteworthy and publicly discussed situation. This family dynamic is likely to continue drawing attention as the election cycle progresses.
