Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota fielded tough questions on abortion, immigration, the economy and his own past misstatements in an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” that was mainly noteworthy because it was his first appearance on a Sunday news program since becoming Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate.
The Ny Times reports he turned some questions into critiques of former President Donald J. Trump and sidestepped others. Asked whether Israel had the right to strike Iranian oil facilities or nuclear facilities, he did not directly answer, saying that “specific operations will be dealt with at the time.”
Walz initially burst into national prominence over the summer through his well-regarded television appearances and quippy Midwestern jabs at Republicans. But since joining the national ticket he has faced criticism for running a bubble-wrapped campaign, avoiding taking many questions from reporters or sitting for tough interviews.
Those critiques ramped up after Tuesday night, when Mr. Walz appeared nervous and — perhaps — a bit rusty onstage during the vice-presidential debate with Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who frequently spars with reporters and seems to welcome contentious interviews.
Walz stumbled over some answers at the debate, acknowledging that he had been “a knucklehead at times” as he struggled to explain why he had falsely claimed he had been in Hong Kong during the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing. But he also created a memorable moment when he asked Mr. Vance whether Mr. Trump had lost the 2020 election, prompting Mr. Vance to dodge and say he was “focused on the future.”
Snap polls of viewers suggested the debate was essentially a draw, but Mr. Walz’s hesitance caused some concern among Democrats and Saturday Night Live spoofed him, making fun of his shaky answers and missteps alongside Mr. Vance’s dodges.
On Sunday Mr. Walz parried tough questions from Shannon Bream of Fox News and focused many responses on Mr. Trump.
WATCH: Fox’s @ShannonBream calls out @GovTimWalz after he claims Kamala’s “border policies are the most strongest, the fairest, we’ve seen.”
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) October 6, 2024
Bream: “You know Governor, a lot of people, including your own party, would not join that statement.” pic.twitter.com/tAArXTRKIG
Pressed about the degree to which Minnesota allows late-term abortions, Mr. Walz pivoted to the effects of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. “This is a distraction from the real issue here, is women being forced into miscarriages, women being forced to go back home, get sepsis, potentially die,” he said.
On immigration, he faulted Mr. Trump for helping kill a bipartisan bill that would have tightened border security, and argued that Mr. Trump had been ineffective on the issue during his presidency.
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