Minnesota Governor Tim Walz delivered a fiery speech peppered with expletives to a crowd of Democratic activists this past Saturday at the South Carolina Democratic Party state convention in Columbia. The 61-year-old former schoolteacher, who once sought the vice presidency in 2024, made headlines with his call for Democrats to adopt a more confrontational stance against former President Donald Trump.
Walz's speech, marked by its aggressive tone, diverged from traditional political rhetoric, urging party members to eschew civility for tougher tactics. "‘Oh, the Governor’s being mean,’ well, maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it’s time for us to be a little more fierce," Walz stated, addressing the need for Democrats to "ferociously push back" against the current political opposition.
Drawing from his experience in education, Walz explained his perspective on handling bullies, distinguishing between the patience extended to children and the assertive approach he believes is necessary for adults. "And when it’s a child you talk to him and you tell him why bullying is wrong," he elaborated. "But when it’s an adult like Donald Trump, you bully the s*** out of him back," Walz declared, eliciting reactions from both supporters and critics.
The governor's remarks did not stop at strategies for political engagement. He went on to characterize Trump as an "existential threat" to American democracy, employing the term "wannabe dictator" to describe the former president. This choice of words is particularly striking as it aligns with terminology often used for authoritarian leaders, not democratically elected ones.
Walz also criticized what he perceives as a Republican hesitation to engage in direct confrontation. He encouraged Democrats to stand firm and maintain enthusiasm while adopting these tougher tactics. The governor concluded with a call for joy in the political process, emphasizing the need for Democrats to have the courage to confront "the bullies and the greed."
The video clip of his speech, shared on social media, sparked a range of reactions, with some applauding Walz's stance and others deeming his language inappropriate for a political leader. As the speech circulates online, it remains a controversial example of the heightened political polarization in the United States.