What did Tim Walz say about Elon Musk? Campaign says former misspoke as viral remark sparks online backlash

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats and advocates celebrate $72 billion budget - Source: Getty
What did Tim Walz say about Elon Musk? (Image via Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune/ Getty Images)

On November 01, 2024, Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz attended a campaign event in Detroit wherein he referred to Elon Musk as "that gay guy". Walz was discussing the influence of rich individuals in US politics and he mentioned:

"If you're a billionaire, Elon Musk for example. Say that guy, that gay guy… Michigan knows that word. Look, that dude got a tax cut."

Walz also let out a chuckle before he completed his sentence and his clip from the event went viral on the internet. In addition to receiving backlash from MAGA supporters, Tim Walz's comment also garnered Elon Musk's attention who took to X (formerly Twitter) on November 01, 2024, stating:

"I have no problem being called gay tbh"

X users also began calling Walz out for his comment on Musk and one of the X users @cb_doge tweeted:

"This is beyond pathetic. Elon Musk is a national asset and deserves respect, regardless of the party or candidate he supports. Shame on the Democrats."

Harris-Walz campaign stated Tim Walz intended to say "That guy got": Details explored

While Tim Walz did not clarify his statement on Elon Musk or comment on the same at the Detroit rally, as per the Daily Mail on November 02, 2024, the Harris-Walz campaign has called it a slip.

In a statement issued by the Harris-Walz campaign to The Post, it was mentioned that Tim Walz stuttered during his speech and that he intended to say "That guy got". The campaign representative mentioned:

"The governor started laughing and stuttered while trying to say 'that guy got' - he did not refer to Elon as a gay guy. He got stuck on the G in that guy got while trying not to laugh at the remark from the crowd."

Moreover, the campaign rep also tried to defend the chuckle that Tim Walz gave out after mentioning Elon Musk. They mentioned that in the video of the incident, one could hear a crowd attendee yell "dips*it" when Walz brought up Musk's name and that the smirk was in response to that comment.

Additionally, this is not the first time Walz has made a comment on Elon Musk. The vice president nominee previously passed a joking remark on the Tesla CEO on October 22, 2024, in Wisconsin. Tim Walz referred to Elon Musk's presence at Trump's rally in Butler Pennsylvania which took place on October 5, 2024.

When talking about Elon Musk jumping beside Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania rally, Walz claimed that Tesla's CEO was "jumping around, skipping like a dips*it." Walz also mentioned how Musk endorsed Trump immediately after an assassination attempt and said that Elon Musk is "literally the richest man in the world" who is spending millions of dollars to help Trump buy an election.

The Harris-Walz campaign, however, hasn't commented on what Walz said about Musk at the Wisconsin rally at the time of writing.


According to CBS News, Tim Walz will be conveying his closing message to Americans in an interview scheduled to air on November 4, 2024, on CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Walz's interview on Stephen Colbert's show will be his last address to America on a national platform before the election on November 5, 2024. Additionally, during his interview on ABC's Good Morning America on October 30, 2024, Walz expressed confidence in winning the upcoming elections.

Edited by Tiasha
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