The intersection of family ties and political divides has once again surfaced in the lead-up to the upcoming elections, this time involving relatives of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. A photograph circulating on social media featuring individuals proudly wearing “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts has ignited discussions about family loyalty and political differences. While initially raising eyebrows, it has been confirmed that these Trump supporters are indeed distant cousins of the Minnesota governor.
Former President Donald Trump himself amplified the image by reposting it on his Truth Social platform, adding fuel to the story. His message accompanying the photo read, “It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!” This public acknowledgment from Trump turned a family matter into a nationally recognized political anecdote.
The original post of the photograph on X (formerly Twitter) came from Charles Herbster, a Nebraska Republican who previously sought the governorship with Trump’s backing in 2022. Herbster’s spokesperson, Rod Edwards, clarified that the individuals in the photo are descendants of Francis Walz, the brother of Tim Walz’s grandfather, confirming their familial connection to the Democratic politician. “The family in the picture are the descendants of Francis Walz, who was brother to Tim Walz’s grandfather,” Edwards stated. “They’re all Walzes and spouses.” This statement highlights that while sharing the Walz name, they represent a different branch of the family tree with distinct political leanings.
The Nebraska-based Walz family members corroborated their relationship to Governor Tim Walz in a written statement provided to The Associated Press. This statement aimed to provide context and affirm the authenticity of their support for Trump.
Their statement elaborated on the timing and intention behind the photo, saying, “Shortly after Governor Tim Walz was named the Democrat Party Vice Presidential nominee, our family had a get-together. We had t-shirts made to show support for President Trump and J.D. Vance and took a group picture. That photo was shared with friends, and when we were asked for permission to post the picture, we agreed.” This gives insight into the family gathering and their proactive decision to publicly display their political stance.
Further emphasizing their position, the statement continued, “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.” This direct and unambiguous declaration leaves no doubt about their political preference in the upcoming election.
In contrast to the Nebraska cousins, Tim Walz’s sister, Sandy Dietrich, residing in Alliance, Nebraska, expressed surprise but acknowledged the possibility of their distant relation. Dietrich mentioned the limited connection with that side of the family, especially after the early death of their father, James Walz, who was a school superintendent in Valentine, Nebraska. “We weren’t close with them. We didn’t know them,” she admitted, highlighting the geographical and relational distance between the two branches of the Walz family.
Dietrich also clarified her own political alignment and that of her immediate family, stating, “I know who I’m voting for. That’s all I can control,” and referring to herself and her family as “Democrats for Tim.” This underscores the differing political views within the extended Walz family, even within Nebraska.
Adding another layer of complexity to the family narrative, reports have surfaced regarding Tim Walz’s older brother, Jeff Walz. Prior to this incident with the Nebraska cousins, the New York Post reported on Facebook comments attributed to Jeff Walz of Freeport, Florida, expressing strong disapproval of his younger brother’s political ideology. According to the report, Jeff Walz stated he was “100% opposed to all his ideology” and even considered endorsing Trump. These comments from another sibling further illustrate the diverse political spectrum within the Walz family.
However, in a subsequent interview with NewsNation, Jeff Walz appeared to walk back some of his earlier, harsher statements. While acknowledging some lingering resentment about learning of his brother’s VP nomination through media rather than directly, he downplayed the political significance of his comments and expressed no desire to influence the political discourse or be involved in any campaigns. Jeff Walz explained that his reference to “stories” about his brother was more about childhood anecdotes, recalling a humorous story about car sickness. “Nobody wanted to sit with him, because he had car sickness and would always throw up on us, that sort of thing,” he recounted, suggesting a lighter interpretation of his earlier cryptic remarks. He also indicated he would refrain from further public statements on the matter.
In conclusion, the situation involving the “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” photo and the comments from Tim Walz’s brother highlight the intricate and often unpredictable nature of family dynamics in the political arena. While distant cousins are publicly supporting Donald Trump, and an older brother initially voiced opposition (later softened), Tim Walz’s sister remains firmly in his corner. This narrative serves as a reminder that political views are deeply personal and can vary significantly even within the same family, adding an intriguing human dimension to the broader political landscape as the election season intensifies.
