Special Poll
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) remarked in an interview aired early Friday that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is getting under the skin of former President Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio).
Speaking with comedian Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show,” Ocasio-Cortez said, “I think Trump and Vance believe they have some sort of monopoly on what it means to be masculine.”
She continued, “But then Walz comes along—he’s a football coach who also led the gay-straight alliance when he was coaching. He’s basically saying, ‘What’s up with this behavior? Why are you acting like this?’ And I think it’s driving them crazy because Walz is presenting a different example of what it means to be a strong man in America.”
Walz has taken to calling Trump and Vance “weird,” a term that has resonated with his Democratic supporters. Both Trump and Vance have not taken kindly to the label and have publicly pushed back.
At a factory event earlier this week, Trump responded to Walz’s comments, saying, “This guy’s a whack job. He called JD and me ‘weird.’ I think we’re as normal as anyone. Like you folks.” He went on, “But Walz—he’s the one who’s weird. Have you seen him on stage? His movements, her laugh—it’s all a bit much. ‘Weird’ is actually a mild way to put it.”
This week, Vice President Harris and Walz were front and center at the Democratic National Convention, where they spoke to an enthusiastic crowd. Their nominations, following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, have injected fresh energy and excitement into the Democratic base.
However, Trump’s campaign was quick to criticize the Democratic event. “The [Democratic convention] is definitely low energy and low impact, with Democrats screaming and yelling with no message other than disgusting personal attacks and outright lies. Contrast that with the [Republican convention] and President Trump who has offered a positive vision for America,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, in a statement to The Hill on Friday.
In a separate email to The Hill, a spokesperson for Vance said that Ocasio-Cortez, Harris, and Walz all back “radical liberal policies” that have led to high prices and a crisis at the southern border due to fentanyl trafficking.
“Tim Walz even signed a law that could allow the government to strip custody from parents who oppose their children undergoing gender transition treatments. Americans can’t afford four more years of their extreme, far-left agenda,” added Luke Schroeder, Vance’s spokesperson.