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Did Tim Walz Say He'd Invest in 'Ladder Factory' to Help Migrants Over Border Wall?

Soon after Harris picked the Minnesota governor as her running mate, the internet lit up with rumors and conspiracies about him.

by Izz Scott LaMagdeleine, Aug. 6, 2024


A white man is wearing a blue jacket that says HARRIS on it in white letters. Surrounding him from left to white clockwise is a white man wearing a blue suit, a white man in a black and white image, a group of men wearing purple uniforms and a Black man wearing a black fedora, shirt and tie.

Image courtesy of Getty Images


Soon after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to join her 2024 presidential ticket, numerous rumors and conspiracies emerged about who he is and what he has done as an elected official. Claims quickly spread about everything from laws he approved in Minnesota to his military service to his son, Gus.

Some of these claims came from satire sites, like a rumor that Walz was kicked out of a restaurant by former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Others spread from various politicians or publications, like a claim that spread from far-right media outlets stating Walz approved a law that banned Christians, Jews and Muslims from teaching (false). 

In short, we've fact-checked the hottest claims that have surrounded Walz — and will continue to in the lead-up to the November election.


By Izz Scott LaMagdeleine

Izz Scott LaMagdeleine is the web producer/production editor for Snopes.

No, Edited Video Doesn't Show Pence Endorsing Harris and Walz

Oct. 15, 2024

"This is a disgrace. A former running mate encouraging people to vote other side?" one Threads u ...

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Rumors That Tim Walz Has Bipolar Disorder are Unfounded

Oct. 11, 2024

Critics of the Democratic vice presidential candidate speculated about his mental health in the ...

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Tim Walz Didn't Sign Bill Allowing Babies Born Alive After Failed Abortion to Die

Oct. 4, 2024

Sen. JD Vance made the accusation of the Minnesota governor during the Oct. 1, 2024, vice-presid ...

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No, Walz Wasn't Barred from College Football Games After Being Booed

Oct. 2, 2024

"Timmy lost it when he got boos he is supposed to be vice president candidate and he flipped peo ...

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Fact-Checking Walz-Vance VP Debate

Oct. 1, 2024

Snopes fact-checked the vice presidential candidates' statements in real time.

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Video Does Not Show Walz Giving Middle Finger to Crowd at Minnesota-Michigan Football Game

Sept. 30, 2024

Walz visited Michigan Stadium in late September 2024 to attend the Big Ten college football game ...

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No, This Isn't Walz Dancing in Crop Top to 'Texas Hold 'Em'

Sept. 13, 2024

The 2024 vice presidential candidate was allegedly wearing a red cowboy hat and leather pants wh ...

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No, Shaquille O'Neal Didn't Throw Walz Out of His Restaurant

Sept. 10, 2024

The incident supposedly happened after a day of election campaigning in Atlanta.

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What to Know About Claims That Walz Lied About Being a Football Coach

Sept. 10, 2024

Was he the head coach or assistant coach? Was the position paid or a volunteer position? Did his ...

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Fake Photo Shows Trump Posing with People Wearing 'Walz's for Trump' Shirts

Sept. 6, 2024

While some of Tim Walz's cousins living in Nebraska truly did show support for the former U.S. p ...

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An image of Black athletes wearing purple uniforms is shown next to a white man wearing a black suit speaking at a podium.

No, Minnesota Vikings Didn't Denounce Walz

Sept. 6, 2024

One person who shared the rumor on Facebook tagged a friend and said: "Go Vikings!!!"

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Gordon Ramsay Called Walz 'Woke Creep' and Threw Him Off 'Hell's Kitchen'?

Sept. 6, 2024

Walz was alleged to be appearing in a special episode of the reality cooking show to highlight l ...

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Photo Shows Relatives of Tim Walz Wearing 'Nebraska Walz's for Trump' Shirts?

Sept. 5, 2024

A photo showing eight people wearing T-shirts reading "Nebraska Walz's for Trump" caught fire on ...

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No, Minnesota Law Approved by Walz Doesn't Ban Christians, Jews or Muslims from Teaching

Aug. 30, 2024

Merely repeating a talking point ad nauseum does not make that talking point become true.

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Did Tim Walz Once Gift His Family's Car to a Next-Door Neighbor?

Aug. 30, 2024

A story circulated online in August 2024 about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, offer ...

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No, Photo Doesn't Show Walz in Blackface

Aug. 28, 2024

A popular Facebook post claimed Walz, a former teacher, wore "blackface years ago to amuse his s ...

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Explaining Conservatives' Conspiracy Theory About Tim Walz's Dog, Scout

Aug. 26, 2024

A conspiracy theory that claimed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted photos of two different pups to ...

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No, Video Doesn't Show Walz Being 'Abusive' Toward Son at 2024 DNC

Aug. 23, 2024

Online users wrongly claimed a video showed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz physically abusing his son, ...

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Unpacking the Claim That Walz 'Recruited Young Boys' into 'Gay Club' at School

Aug. 23, 2024

Walz was asked to supervise a high school Gay-Straight Alliance organization in 1999.

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A screenshot of a fake post made it appear as if Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to Ann Coulter's post about his son, Gus.

Alleged Walz Reply to Ann Coulter's X Post About His Son Is Fake

Aug. 23, 2024

One online user wrote, "Tim Walz has some trash talk game. Love it." Another person added, "He j ...

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Walz Once Said, 'Gathering in Large Numbers in Church, We Simply Don't Want That Happening'?

Aug. 23, 2024

"It's amazing how short people's memories are in regards to Tim Walz," one X user wrote.

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Did Harris-Walz Campaign 'Stage' Pennsylvania Restaurant Photo Op with 'Paid Actors'?

Aug. 23, 2024

The Harris-Walz campaign's bus tour through western Pennsylvania on Aug. 18, 2024, ended with a ...

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No, Tim Walz's Daughter Didn't Get $82K in Student Loan Forgiveness

Aug. 13, 2024

The vice presidential candidate and his wife were allegedly worth $182 million.

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An online rumor claimed Oliver Anthony filed a cease and desist order against Tim Walz for playing Rich Men North of Richmond.

Oliver Anthony Filed Cease and Desist Order Against Tim Walz to 'Stop Using My Song'?

Aug. 13, 2024

Anthony's hit country song, "Rich Men North of Richmond," previously topped the Billboard Hot 10 ...

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No, Tim Walz Did Not Lie About Being at Bagram Airfield or Claim It Was in Iraq

Aug. 12, 2024

Walz traveled to Afghanistan as a U.S. congressman.

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Walz Didn't Sign Bill Permitting 'Gender Reassignment Surgery for Children'

Aug. 12, 2024

"This is dangerous and indefensible," one X user said.

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Harris and Walz Posed with Revolutionary Communists of America Sign?

Aug. 12, 2024

One user wrote, "Kamala meets with the Revolutionary Communists of America. Not even trying to h ...

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A white man smiles widely at a podium that says Vice President of the United States. To his right stands a Black Asian woman looking happy wearing a blue suit. A large crowd can be seen behind them.

Unpacking the Controversy Over Tim Walz's Military Service

Aug. 12, 2024

Walz served in the Minnesota National Guard for 24 years before leaving to run for Congress.

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No, Walz Didn't Get Stomach Pumped After 'Neigh-borhood Dare Gone Wrong'

Aug. 12, 2024

Social media accounts shared a purported newspaper clipping that claimed the alleged incident in ...

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Tim Walz Signed Bill Requiring Tampons in Boys' Bathrooms?

Aug. 12, 2024

Snopes looked into the story behind the Minnesota governor's "Tampon Tim" nickname.

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Tim Walz Is Younger than Brad Pitt?

Aug. 11, 2024

Some social media users expressed the opinion that Democratic vice-presidential candidate Walz l ...

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Online users shared an image graphic purportedly broadcast by Fox News about Tim Walz's Communist Agenda, taxes on couches and more.

Fox News Aired Graphic Listing 'Tim Walz's Communist Agenda,' with a Tax on Couches?

Aug. 9, 2024

One user on X said, "Fox News is doing their best to make Walz look cool."

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A Black Asian woman in a blue suit stands next to a white man wearing a gray blue suit. Both look happy and are standing in front of a large crowd.

Harris and Walz Announced Assault Weapons Ban, Not Gun Ban, During Rally

Aug. 9, 2024

Throughout her career, Kamala Harris has supported the reinstatement of the 1994 assault weapons ...

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Real Pic of Crowd at Rally for Harris and Walz in Detroit?

Aug. 12, 2024

The campaign reported a staff member shot the photo.

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A fake X post screenshot claimed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted the words, The best part about being the VP candidate for the Dems is that my running mate will never try to have me hung by a crowd of her own supporters.

Tim Walz Said, 'My Running Mate Will Never Try To Have Me Hung by a Crowd of Her Own Supporters'?

Aug. 9, 2024

Online users shared a screenshot claiming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on X about "the best pa ...

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Tim Walz Signed Law Protecting Pedophiles from Discrimination?

Aug. 8, 2024

The claim was shared by the Republican National Committee's official research account on X.

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Tim Walz Mug Shot from 1995 DUI Arrest Is Authentic

Aug. 7, 2024

The Dawes County Sheriff's Office confirmed the mug shot is legitimate via email.

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Tim Walz Didn't Change Minnesota State Flag to Resemble Somali National Flag

Aug. 6, 2024

The claim resurfaced after Kamala Harris announced Walz as her 2024 running mate.

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Did Tim Walz Say He'd Invest in 'Ladder Factory' to Help Migrants Over Border Wall?

Aug. 6, 2024

Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in August 2024.

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