Tim Walz Says He Looks Forward to Debating JD Vance If He’ll ‘Get Off the Couch’

Making his debut as a vice presidential candidate on Tuesday, Tim Walz staked his claim to Middle American values and argued that former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, are “weird” and “creepy as hell.”

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, also got the packed arena laughing with a reference to a meme about Vance having relations with a couch.

“I can’t wait to debate the guy,” Walz said. “That is, if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”

Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, selected Walz earlier on Tuesday to be her vice presidential pick. Harris and Walz spoke in Philadelphia in front of about 12,000 people, who cheered at the campaign’s oft-repeated slogan: “We’re not going back.”

In his speech, Walz embraced the role of attack dog, charging the Republicans have twisted the idea of freedom by intruding into decisions about abortion and fertility.

“In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make, even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves,” he said. “There’s a golden rule. Mind your own damn business.”

He talked about his own family’s experience with in vitro fertilization, which is likely to be a key theme of the Democratic campaign over the next three months.

He also alluded to his experience in the Army National Guard to draw a contrast with Trump.

“He doesn’t know the first thing about service,” Walz said. “He doesn’t have time for it because he’s too busy serving himself.”

He also attacked Trump’s record as president, saying he “froze” during the COVID-19 pandemic and drove the economy into the ground.

“Violent crime was up under Donald Trump,” Walz said. “That’s not even accounting the crimes he committed.”

Walz became a viral sensation just two weeks ago, when he called Trump and Vance “weird” during an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” That interview, just two days after Joe Biden withdrew from the race, launched him into the vice presidential conversation.

He reprised the theme on Tuesday, saying that Vance’s biography and attitudes are “not what Middle America is.”

“I have to say it,” he said in closing. “You know it. You feel it. These guys are creepy and yes — just weird as hell.”