Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who campaigned to be vice president in 2024, voiced frustration over criticism of his masculinity, accusing Fox News of obsessing over trivial matters like his use of a straw to drink a milkshake.
Appearing on the podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom” on Tuesday, Walz dismissed conservative attacks on his masculinity as “weird” and “obsessive,” claiming right-wing media repeatedly suggested he was not masculine enough and even implied he was homosexual.
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“It just baffled me how much time they spent trying to attack me—that I wasn’t masculine enough in their vision. I saw Fox News did, like, a couple of days because I used a straw, and I’m like, ‘Hell, man, how else do you drink a milkshake?’ But they focused on it obsessively, which I think, again, is their obsession, their weirdness,” Walz said.
Walz specifically called out Fox News host Jesse Watters, who in September 2024, ridiculed Walz for sipping a milkshake with a straw, a moment that was widely circulated online. The governor brushed off the attacks but said he was shocked by how much time right-wing media devoted to the issue.
“Their whole thing was that they spent all their time—these guys on Fox News—that Walz is gay, he’s not masculine, you know? And he doesn’t coach football the way he should,” Walz said.
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Walz also suggested he would have no problem in a physical confrontation with his critics, stating: “I think I could kick most of their ass.”
While Walz has attempted to present himself as a strong Midwestern leader, critics have mocked his handling of firearms, particularly after he was filmed struggling to load a semi-automatic shotgun during a pheasant-hunting campaign event in October. The moment was widely shared by conservative commentators as evidence of his lack of authenticity.
Beyond personal attacks, Walz has drawn fire for progressive policies since taking office in 2018. One of his most controversial moves was signing a law in May 2023 requiring Minnesota schools to provide tampons in both girls’ and boys’ restrooms. The policy earned him the nickname “Tampon Tim,” a moniker used by President Donald Trump and other Republican critics.
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Despite his failed vice presidential bid, Walz has continued to position himself as a national Democratic leader, launching a town hall tour through red districts across the U.S. earlier this month.
In a March 2 interview with The New Yorker, Walz hinted that he might run for president in 2028, stating he would consider it if his “skill set” and the political conditions aligned.
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