Tim Walz debuts as Kamala Harris’ VP pick condemning Donald Trump and JD Vance: Live updates
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, took to the stage together for the first time on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, with the 2024 election now just 90 days away.
The new Democratic ticket arrived before the more than 12,000-strong crowd at Temple University in the Pennsylvania city to roars of applause.
Onstage, the vice president praised Walz’s Midwestern roots as a high school teacher, veteran, congressman and governor responsible for policies like free school lunches for kids and protections to codify abortion rights.
“I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future,” Harris said.
Walz then delivered a fiery speech of his own, balancing calls to bring “joy” back to politics with cutting attacks on the GOP campaign, mocking Donald Trump and JD Vance as out-of-touch leaders who are “weird as hell” and lying about their connections to Project 2025.
Walz beat out a crowded field of rivals to be the Democratic pick for VP, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who appeared at Tuesday’s rally.
Trump reacted hysterically to Walz’s selection on Tuesday, warning he would “unleash HELL ON EARTH” in a fundraising email to supporters.
Trump promises ‘major interview’ with Elon Musk next week
Desperate to regain the limelight, Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will do “a major interview” with Elon Musk next Monday August 12.
He’s also speaking to Fox and Friends this morning, where he can be relied upon to attack Walz as a “radical leftist” and claim that “Kamabla” is personally responsible for inflation.
We got a flavour of that last night in another Truth Social post in which he also baselessly and insanely claimed: “I HEAR THERE IS A BIG MOVEMENT TO “BRING BACK CROOKED JOE.”
Trump was also trying to wrestle back attention last night by taking credit for a slate of primary wins for his MAGA candidates when most eyes were trained on Philadelphia.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 10:30
Teacher, coach and family man: The Midwestern dad courting the White House
Walz has shared plenty of family stories on social media over the years, including just last night, when he explained that his daughter was named Hope in response to he and his wife Gwen’s eventual triumph after years of heart-breaking fertility treatment.
Want to know more about the man of the moment?
From high school halls to Capitol Hill and the Minnesota governor’s mansion, Nebraska native Tim Walz has been weaving a political path tinged with schoolteacher sensibilities since 2006 – and the next stop could be the White House. His family life has figured prominently through all of it, writes Sheila Flynn.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 10:10
Harris-Walz camo hat attracts huge interest online
It’s been less than 24 hours since the Minnesota Governor’s unveiling and already one piece of merchandise in their campaign store has gone viral for taking on Donald Trump at his own game.
I think this is a pretty accurate assessment of its target audience and likely appeal.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 09:50
Watch: Walz’s best reactions to Harris’s speech
Tim Walz’s best reactions to Kamala Harris’s speech
Kamala Harris and her newly-appointed running mate Tim Walz took to the stage in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, in their first outing as a political pairing. Harris made a 30-minute speech to introduce the Minnesota governor to cheers and applause from gathered Democrats – during which time Walz stood, and took in the occasion. Smiles, prayers and waves to the crowd – Walz went through a full range of emotions on stage, all of which were on display Vice President Harris as she spoke.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 09:30
Walz lands a zinger on Vance with couch gag – and attacks him over memoir trashing his own community
Harris’ new running mate brutally roasted his Republican counterpart JD Vance during his maiden speech last night – and even cracked a risque couch joke at his expense.
Walz drew cheers and laughter from the crowd gathered in Philadelphia when he referenced the Republican vice presidential nominee’s recent bashing online, telling crowds: “I can’t wait to debate the guy… if he’s willing to get off the couch.”
Vance was subject to ridicule after a parody post on X claimed that there was part of his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy where the Ohio Senator admitted to having relations with a sofa.
The joke was exacerbated by a since-retracted fact-check article by the Associated Press titled “No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch,” which prompted a barrage of memes on social media.
Walz couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon himself on Tuesday night, hitting out at Vance’s hypocrisy in his book, and blasting his exclusive education and career.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 09:10
Tim Walz pulls no punches in first speech as Kamala Harris’s running mate at packed Philadelphia rally
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made their debut as the Democratic presidential ticket on Tuesday night, kicking off a campaign against Donald Trump and JD Vance in front of an electrified crowd in Philadelphia.
The governor strode on stage at Temple University’s Licouras Center on Tuesday with Harris just hours after she announced him as her running mate, with 91 days to go until the November election.
Walz’s appearance ended the closely-watched contest for the next potential vice president, landing on a seasoned Midwestern politician, military veteran and former school teacher with a progressive track record.
Here’s Andrew Feinberg and Alex Woodward’s report on a momentous night in Philly.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 08:50
Hello and welcome!
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2024 US presidential election.
Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, took to the stage together for the first time on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, with the 2024 election now just 90 days away.
The new Democratic ticket arrived before the more than 12,000-strong crowd at Temple University in the Pennsylvania city to roars of applause.
Onstage, the Vice President praised Walz’s Midwestern roots as a high school teacher, veteran, congressman and governor responsible for policies like free school lunches for kids and protections to codify abortion rights.
“I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future,” Harris said.
Walz then delivered a fiery speech of his own, balancing calls to bring “joy” back to politics with cutting attacks on the GOP campaign, mocking Donald Trump and JD Vance as out-of-touch leaders who were “weird as hell” and lying about their connections to Project 2025.
Joe Sommerlad7 August 2024 08:30