Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is seemingly refusing to explain why he said he was “friends with school shooters” during Tuesday evening’s vice presidential debate.
Walz made the remark while responding to a question about how to address the issue of school shootings, but did not explain whether the comment was intentional or if he merely misspoke.
Following the debate, reporters asked Walz to clarify the remark while visiting a pizza shop in Manhattan alongside his wife Gwen. Walz failed to answer.
“Can you clarify what you meant when you said you befriended school shooters?” one journalist inquired.
Walz’s refusal to answer only added fuel to the fire, leading to even more speculation.
Pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer used the opportunity to frame Walz as a “sociopath.”
“Brutal,” she said. “The guy is a total sociopath.”
A Texas-based gun rights organization highlighted the video as well, in an apparent attempt to cast Walz as potentially sympathetic to school shooters.
“Walz ignores reporters asking him to clarify his ‘friends with school shooters’ comments,” @TXGunRights said.
The Trump campaign also wasted no time sharing the clip across social media.
Over on Truth Social, Trump pointed to the remark as evidence of Walz’s inability to lead.
“Did Tampon Tim just say he has ‘become friends with school shooters,” Trump wrote. “He isn’t even qualified to be governor, let alone Vice President. Walz and Kamala do not have what it takes!”
But many are arguing that placing the quote in context helps explain what Walz may have actually meant.
Walz’s full quote reads, “I met in that office with Sandy Hook parents. I’ve become friends with school shooters, I’ve seen it.”
Walz is believed to have been referring to the parents of school shooting victims, who he has repeatedly cited over the years as helping change his views on gun control.
“Look, the NRA, I was an NRA guy for a long time,” Walz continued during the debate. “They used to teach gun safety. I am of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice.”
The governor also noted that his son Gus witnessed a shooting, making the issue hit close to home.
“I got a 17-year-old and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball,” Walz added. “Those things don’t leave you.”
Nevertheless, Walz’s decision to ignore the remark instead of providing clarification seems to be bringing more attention to the issue.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
