Tim Walz’s response to criticism of “socialism” is gaining traction online

During an interview Sunday on Fox News, Minnesota Gov. and Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz responded to his past use of the word “socialism” and the subsequent criticism the word “socialism” generated, and his response spread online .

Walz previously sharply criticized some Republican lawmakers over a comment he made over the summer about socialism. During a July livestream of “White Dudes for Harris,” a fundraising initiative designed to help galvanize Harris support among white men, the Minnesota governor touted his “progressive values” and condemned critics who call them socialism.

“Never shy away from our progressive values,” he said during the livestream. “One man’s socialism is another man’s neighborhood.”

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, responded to the socialism remark in August, sharing a compilation of various clips of Walz on X, formerly Twitter, and writing, “This is the most radical ticket in American history.”

In an interview on Fox News SundayHost Shannon Bream asked Walz about his use of the word “socialism” during this livestream, in which she quoted Merriam-Webster’s definition of socialism, which the dictionary defines as “a system of a society or group in which there is no private property.” and added that “the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.”

“Did you want to advocate for this here in the United States?” Brasse asked.

Walz answered “no” and explained that there are things that society needs to do together.

“Republicans often talk about socialism, and I would advocate that we build our roads together. I don’t think anyone is arguing that you have to build your own road from your house to your place of business or whatever. So.” I said this definition that is the right thing for the things we do together. I believe in moral capitalism, and I believe that capitalism works and lifts everyone up, but I also believe that you have to make sure that there are things that we do together, together.”

He added: “This is about dividing this, but there is no way there can be a capitalism that says billionaires get everything and the middle class gets nothing, and I think what Kamala Harris is saying is empowering the middle class .” .”

Newsweek has emailed Walz’s spokesperson for comment.

During a campaign rally in New Hampshire last month, Harris proposed a billionaires’ tax if she is elected president.

“Billionaires and big corporations need to pay their fair share of taxes,” she said. “It’s simply not right that those who can afford it the most often pay a lower tax rate than our teachers, our nurses and our firefighters.”

When Bream pressed Sunday on whether the use of the word was a “knucklehead thing,” Walz continued to defend the use of the term, saying it was “what the right-wingers use.”

“Donald Trump [the GOP nominee] “When Kamala Harris says this is a socialist or Marxist government, what she’s actually doing is the exact opposite of that: creating a free economy that works and people can grow up into the middle class,” the governor added.

The interaction between Bream and Walz has since been posted on X by journalist Aaron Rupar and reached more than 517,000 views as of Sunday afternoon.

During the Trump-Harris presidential debate in early September, the former president claimed that Harris was a “Marxist.”

“She is a Marxist. Everyone knows she is a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist economics professor and he taught her well,” he said during the debate.

Trump previously called Harris “Comrade Kamala” on social media and said his opponent was “a communist” in a recent podcast interview with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan.

Meanwhile, Walz defended himself back in late July with a similar comment on MSNBC, claiming that socialism is a catchphrase for GOP critics.

“I have to tell you, they cry out for socialism, we just build roads, we build schools and we create wealth,” the governor said.