Gwen Walz’s speech was meant to be a rallying cry, but it quickly turned into an awkward spectacle. As the wife of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who’s currently running as Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential candidate, she aimed to stir up support with what she probably thought was an empowering moment. Instead, it landed like a lead balloon.
At the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Minneapolis, Gwen Walz decided to school the crowd of grown adults on how to address former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, using a tone that felt more suited to a kindergarten classroom.
“Repeat after me: Mr. Trump, Mr. Vance, please mind your own business!” she directed, in an exaggerated, teacher-like voice.
Crickets.
Sure, a few in the crowd dutifully repeated her words, but most sat in uncomfortable silence, probably wondering how they’d found themselves being talked to like they were five years old.
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Social media didn’t waste time piling on. Comments flooded in, many mocking her tone and the bizarre repetition game.
“Is she directing children?” one commenter wrote. “Why is she always trying to get people to repeat these weird talking points?” another questioned. The internet was filled with laughter and disbelief, as people shared their secondhand embarrassment for the 600-person audience sitting through Gwen Walz’s performance.
This isn’t the first time Gwen Walz has gone viral for her overly animated style, but this latest attempt to whip up the crowd might just take the cake. It’s hard to imagine how this bizarre moment helps her husband’s bid for the vice presidency. Instead, it paints her as someone completely out of touch with her audience — adults who probably don’t appreciate being treated like school children.
And of course, people didn’t miss the irony. For someone so obsessed with tone and decorum, Gwen Walz was more cringe than commanding in her attempt to ‘teach’ the crowd how to speak to political opponents.
