Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) appeared to have trouble managing his own personal firearm when he went pheasant hunting on opening day in his home state of Minnesota on Saturday, participating in the 12th annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener.
Walz, who is vying for the vice presidency alongside current Vice President Kamala Harris, brought along staffers and reporters as part of an eleventh-hour media blitz geared primarily toward shoring up support among men for the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket.
The Trump War Room shared video from MSNBC’s coverage of Walz’s outing, pointing out that even the reporter saw it for the political play that it was. “MSNBC implies that Tim Walz going pheasant hunting is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make up ground with male voters. Sorry Tim, men aren’t voting for a gun grabber.”
MSNBC implies that Tim Walz going pheasant hunting is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make up ground with male voters.
Sorry Tim, men aren’t voting for a gun grabber. pic.twitter.com/Asvq38ObkM
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 12, 2024
When the photos began to circulate on X, however, all anyone really noticed was just how often everyone involved in the pheasant hunt was pictured without a firearm of any kind — Walz included.
“Tim Walz goes ‘pheasant hunting’ to try to appeal to men by showing he’s a regular dude. Only problem? No shotguns. Anywhere in sight,” Monica Crowley posted.
Tim Walz goes “pheasant hunting” to try to appeal to men by showing he’s a regular dude.
Only problem?
No shotguns. Anywhere in sight.
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) October 12, 2024
“Totally authentic. Walz just happened to have a camera crew and staff with him while pheasant hunting, in a sad, desperate attempt to appeal to male voters. Even MSNBC called him out on it lol,” Sara Rose posted.
Totally authentic.
Walz just happened to have a camera crew and staff with him while pheasant hunting, in a sad, desperate attempt to appeal to male voters.Even MSNBC called him out on it lol. pic.twitter.com/YWzWGXRMhh
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) October 12, 2024
“What’s @Tim_Walz hunting for, anyway? Bargains?” Jim Treacher asked.
What’s @Tim_Walz hunting for, anyway? Bargains?pic.twitter.com/wVlPdiLjvK
— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) October 12, 2024
“It’s strange to go hunting without a gun. Maybe Walz is just counting on Doug Emhoff to punch the pheasants to death,” Daily Wire host Michael Knowles added.
It’s strange to go hunting without a gun. Maybe Walz is just counting on Doug Emhoff to punch the pheasants to death. https://t.co/xd8y3VNN3R
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) October 12, 2024
“Tampon Tim Walz did a lot of posing for the cameras during his ‘hunting’ photo op today. He didn’t fire his gun and shot exactly zero pheasants. It’s all fake,” the Trump War Room posted.
Tampon Tim Walz did a lot of posing for the cameras during his “hunting” photo op today.
He didn’t fire his gun and shot exactly zero pheasants.
It’s all fake. pic.twitter.com/84LxOE6SW0
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 12, 2024
The one video that did show Walz with a firearm — his own personal Beretta — only made things worse as he appeared to struggle to operate it.
CBS campaign reporter Shawna Mizelle posted, “@Tim_Walz is out hunting pheasants for the season opener in MN. The Harris Walz campaign recently announced the hunters, gun owners & anglers coalition. Walz often says he supports the 2nd Amndmt but advocates for ‘common sense’ legislation. & we know Harris owns a Glock.”
Tim Walz brought his own gun, a beretta, to hunt for pheasants, he tells me. “
I bought it when I was we shooting a lot of trap,” the Minnesota governor said. pic.twitter.com/K1zGkWYEPY
— Shawna Mizelle (@shawnamizelle) October 12, 2024
Mizelle followed several photos with video of Walz attempting to operate his firearm and complaining, “It never fits quite right, it’s not quite right.”
“Watch Tim Walz struggle to load his shotgun and then complain that the kick usually hurts his shoulder. Men everywhere are in awe,” Amber Duke commented.
Watch Tim Walz struggle to load his shotgun and then complain that the kick usually hurts his shoulder. Men everywhere are in awe. https://t.co/sGu5IIBvN2
— Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) October 12, 2024
“I remember my first time holding a shotgun, too,” The Federalist’s Sean Davis added.
I remember my first time holding a shotgun, too. https://t.co/adCkz6Hlw2
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 12, 2024
At one point, according to Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie, Walz asked whether former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance — who make up the Republican presidential ticket — ever hunted. Someone responded by suggesting that if they did, they would hunt endangered species.
Gov WALZ was on a pheasant hunt today.
According to the pooler —
At one point someone brought up JD Vance & Walz asked do “those guys” hunt?
The person responded maybe endangered species.
//
Yikes.
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) October 12, 2024
