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Walz Family Divide: Nebraska Cousins Publicly Support Trump in Viral Photo
A photograph showing relatives of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wearing “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts has been confirmed as authentic, despite initial skepticism and claims of manipulation on social media.
The Associated Press has verified that the eight individuals in the widely circulated image are distant cousins of Governor Walz, who served as Vice Presidential candidate alongside Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The photo gained significant traction in September 2024 when it received over 28 million views after being shared by various users on X (formerly Twitter).
The family members in the image are descendants of Francis Walz, brother to Tim Walz’s grandfather, according to Rod Edwards, a spokesperson for former Trump-endorsed Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, who initially posted the photo on September 4, 2024.
“Shortly after Governor Tim Walz was named the Democrat Party Vice Presidential nominee, our family had a get-together. We had t-shirts made to show support for President Trump and J.D. Vance and took a group picture,” the Nebraska Walz family explained in a statement to the Associated Press. “The picture is real. The shirts are real. We are the Nebraska Walz family and we are related to Gov. Tim Walz, our grandfathers were brothers.”
The photo’s authenticity was initially questioned by some social media users who claimed it had been artificially generated or manipulated. One user circulated a version with yellow circles highlighting supposed discrepancies in the number of fingers visible on some individuals’ hands, suggesting it was created with AI. “Thanks to Walz’s for Trump we know this is not AI at all. It’s just the Walz family is genetically predisposed to having four fingers,” the user wrote sarcastically.
Others pointed to the grammatically incorrect apostrophe in “Walz’s” on the T-shirts as evidence of manipulation. However, examination of the high-quality original image revealed that what appeared to be missing fingers were simply obscured from view in the photograph.
The image has been leveraged by conservative commentators to suggest broader family rejection of Walz. Conservative figures including conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec and commentator Benny Johnson incorrectly characterized the photo as showing Walz’s “entire family” rather than distant cousins, misrepresenting the scope of the family divide.
The photo first gained major attention when Charles Herbster, who unsuccessfully ran for Nebraska governor with Trump’s endorsement in 2022, shared it with the caption, “Tim Walz’s family back in Nebraska wants you to know something… @realDonaldTrump @JDVance #SaveAmerica.”
The image resurfaced in December 2024 when another social media user posted it with the caption, “Never forget that even Tim Walz’s own family despises him and voted for Trump,” further amplifying the narrative of family rejection.
This incident highlights the increasingly common phenomenon of political divisions within American families becoming public spectacles in the polarized political landscape. While such family splits have always existed, social media now provides a platform for these private disagreements to become viral political statements.
The situation also demonstrates how quickly claims about media manipulation and AI-generated content can spread, even when easily disproven through basic fact-checking and source verification.
Governor Walz has not publicly commented on the photo or his relationship with his Nebraska relatives.
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16 Comments
This is a fascinating look at how political affiliations can split even close-knit families. I’m curious to know more about the dynamics at play and whether they’ve been able to find common ground on other issues.
It’s heartening to see they can still come together as a family, even with their political differences. Family bonds can be stronger than party lines.
This is a fascinating glimpse into the political divisions within a single family. It’s a good reminder that we shouldn’t make assumptions about people’s beliefs based on their background or connections. Kudos to the family for standing by their convictions.
Absolutely. Even close-knit families can have very different political views. The key is finding ways to engage respectfully and maintain relationships despite disagreements.
The photo certainly highlights the deep political divisions in the US. While I may not agree with their political views, I respect their right to express them openly. Kudos to the family for standing by their beliefs.
You make a good point. Even when we disagree, we should still respect people’s right to hold and voice their own political opinions. Open dialogue is important.
Interesting to see the political divide within this family. It’s a good reminder that we can disagree on politics while still respecting each other. Kudos to them for showing their support publicly, even if it’s unpopular in their home state.
Agreed, political differences don’t have to mean a total rift in families. It’s admirable they can come together despite their differing views.
This is a fascinating look at how political affiliations can split even close-knit families. I’m curious to know more about the family dynamics and whether they’ve been able to find common ground on other issues despite their differing views.
Absolutely, family bonds can often transcend political divides. It will be interesting to see if this family is able to maintain their relationships despite their opposing political stances.
While I may not agree with their political views, I respect the Nebraska Walz family’s right to express their support for Trump openly. It’s a good reminder that not everyone in a politician’s family will share their beliefs.
You make a fair point. Even if we disagree with someone’s politics, we should still respect their freedom to hold and voice their own opinions. Healthy debate is important in a democracy.
This is a great example of how political loyalties don’t always fall neatly along family lines. It’s a good reminder that we shouldn’t make assumptions about people’s beliefs based on their background or connections.
Absolutely, people can have very different political views even within the same family. The key is finding ways to engage respectfully despite disagreements.
The photo certainly stirs up a lot of emotion and debate. I’m glad the Associated Press was able to verify its authenticity. It’s a complex situation that highlights the deep political divides in America.
You’re right, this is a nuanced issue without easy answers. I hope the family can find ways to respect each other’s views and maintain their relationships.