A viral photo showing people in “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts has sparked confusion, but the individuals in the image are confirmed to be distant cousins of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, according to a family spokesperson.
The image, featuring eight smiling people wearing navy pro-Trump shirts beneath a “Trump 2024 — Take America Back” sign, gained traction on social media after being reposted by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Trump wrote, “It is a Great Honor to have your Endorsement. I look forward to meeting you soon!”
The photo was originally posted on X by Charles Herbster, a former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate who had Trump’s endorsement in the 2022 race. Rod Edwards, Herbster’s spokesperson, clarified that the people in the image are related to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is now running for vice president alongside Kamala Harris.
“The family in the picture are the descendants of Francis Walz, Tim Walz’s grandfather’s brother,” Edwards explained. “They’re all Walzes and their spouses.”
The descendants of Francis Walz confirmed their family connection to Tim Walz in a text message to The Associated Press.
“After Governor Tim Walz was named the Democratic vice presidential nominee, our family gathered and made T-shirts to show our support for President Trump and J.D. Vance. We took a group photo and agreed to share it when asked for permission,” the family said in a written statement.
“The picture is authentic. The shirts are real. We are the Nebraska Walz family, and we are related to Gov. Tim Walz. Our grandfathers were brothers. The message on the shirts speaks for itself: ‘Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.’”
Tim Walz’s sister, Sandy Dietrich, who resides in Alliance, Nebraska, said she suspected the individuals might be from that side of the family. Dietrich noted that she and her immediate family had not been close with those relatives, adding, “We didn’t know them.”
Dietrich, a self-proclaimed “Democrat for Tim,” declined to comment on her cousins’ political stance but affirmed her support for her brother. “I know who I’m voting for. That’s all I can control,” she stated.
However, not all of Tim Walz’s siblings back his candidacy. His older brother, Jeff Walz of Freeport, Florida, has been vocal on Facebook, expressing his disapproval of his younger brother’s political ideology. He even hinted at possibly endorsing Trump, according to a recent report from the New York Post.
In a Wednesday interview with NewsNation, Jeff Walz said he was frustrated that he learned about his brother’s vice-presidential nomination from the radio. He emphasized that he has no desire to influence the political conversation and prefers to stay uninvolved with any campaign.
Jeff Walz revealed that he and the governor haven’t spoken since their younger brother Craig Walz’s funeral in 2016, aside from a brief phone call last month. He clarified that his earlier Facebook comments about having “stories” to tell were lighthearted, stemming from childhood memories, such as his brother’s car sickness.
“There’s nothing secret behind that. People are reading into it too much. It’s just childhood stuff,” Jeff Walz said, adding that he would make no further comments on the matter.
The Associated Press was unable to reach Jeff Walz for additional comments.
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