Walz: 'We wouldn’t be in this mess if we had won the election'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president, sharply criticized President Trump’s governance style and economic policies but said he takes some responsibility for “this mess” after losing the election in November.
“Look, I own this. We wouldn’t be in this mess if we had won the election, and we didn’t,” Walz said in an interview Wednesday on MSNBC’s “All In” with Chris Hayes.
Walz called Trump “the worst possible business executive that I have ever witnessed” and praised the Wall Street Journal editorial board for calling Trump’s tariffs “the dumbest trade war in history.”
The Minnesota governor said he thinks that sentiment is widespread and that “Americans have had it” with wealthy officials telling them they will have to endure some pain amid the president’s tariff war. He encouraged fellow Democrats to capitalize on Trump’s unpopular policies and make clear that Democrats offer a better solution.
“We have to make sure that Americans know it’s not just that Donald Trump is bad, but we’re offering them something better, and I think that’s what we need to work on,” Walz added.
Walz pointed to the Department of Education, which the administration has sought to dismantle, as a prime opportunity for Democrats to fill a knowledge gap with voters, and agreed with Hayes's suggestion that the party, compared to Republicans, is too risk-averse in their political messaging and goals.
“Look, I’m conservative. I believe that systems work for a long time, that you don’t have to break them," Walz said. "Are there improvements that need to be done? Yes, and I think we’re guilty of sometimes of not acting. Could the Department of Education be more efficient? Absolutely."
But Walz added that it "makes no sense" to eliminate the entire department.
“If you go ask the average American, what does the Department of Education do, they might not have a clear vision of it," he continued. "So when Trump says, ‘It's a bunch of bureaucrats interfering with your local schools. Give local [schools] control, we’ll give you the money,’ it sounds pretty good, and we have not provided what that alternative looks like.”
Walz, a former educator, also zeroed in on the Education Secretary Linda McMahon saying, “I bet she’s never been in a public school.”
“What is she going to do to improve our students’ outcomes and lives?” Walz said. “And there's a vacuum for us to fill. We should get out there and fill it. Talk about what we're going to do.”
Topics
-
Walz: Democrats shouldn't have played 'so safe' in 2024
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is reflecting on his and Vice President Harris's loss in last year's presidential election, and believes Democrats should have been bolder in their campaign to hold onto the ...The Hill - 3d -
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says Democrats played 2024 elections too "safe"
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is now weighing in on what Democrats should have done better in 2024. Political strategists Joel Payne and Michael LaRosa join "America Decides" with analysis.CBS News - 2d -
A Trump critic just won Greenland's election, but the White House may still benefit
A party that has criticized President Trump's threat to take over Greenland won an election there, but may have to govern with a pro-White House opponent.NBC News - 1d -
This is how we do it: ‘After mutual cancer diagnoses we didn’t have sex for five years. Then we discovered toys …’
Jill and Bob became more like housemates than lovers during an illness-enforced break, but a delivery of sex toys brought back the fun How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, ...The Guardian - 5d -
Tim Walz says he and Harris were too ‘safe’ during 2024 presidential campaign
Former vice-presidential candidate claims pair should have held more in-person events around the US. Tim Walz has said he and Kamala Harris were too “safe” during their 2024 election campaign, with ...The Guardian - 5d -
I do aqua aerobics with women in their 80s – it’s the most fun I’ve had exercising | Kate Leaver
A joy from start to finish, doing jump-kicks underwater to classic pop hits has taught me never to think of exercise as punishment. Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email At my first ...The Guardian - 5h -
UK reggae pioneers Steel Pulse: ‘We told punk fans – you can pogo, but please don’t spit at us’
They won a Grammy, risked being shot in the US and were adored by Bob Marley. As they go on tour, the band look back on half a century of being a voice for the voiceless. In the late 1970s, ...The Guardian - 2d -
Trump critic wins Greenland election
The center-right Demokraatit Party won the most votes in Greenland's parliamentary elections, a surprise result as the territory went to the polls in the shadow of President Trump's stated goal of ...CBS News - 19h -
A 40-year-old throwing 94.5 mph? A .696 batting average!? Spring training numbers we do (and don't) believe in
It's hard to know which stats to trust this time of year. So we dig in to separate what's real from the March mirages.ESPN - 1d
More from The Hill
-
America is breaking its own maritime law — and China knows it
We have a legal obligation under the Merchant Marine Act to maintain sufficient maritime capacity for national defense and commerce.The Hill - 50m -
Oversight Democrats launch review of crypto reserve 'poised to enrich' Trump
House Oversight Democrats are encouraging President Trump to abandon his plans for a crypto reserve, calling it a strategy to enrich himself at taxpayer expense. The reserve, announced by Trump ...The Hill - 50m -
Putin says he's open to ceasefire, but wants to eliminate 'causes of this crisis'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is open to a 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the U.S., but suggested vague terms for his support, including wanting to eliminate the root “causes of this ...The Hill - 56m -
Live updates: Trump meets with NATO leader; judge blasts effort to fire federal workers
The Senate must pass a short-term funding bill before the government shutdown, while the White House has pulled its nominee for the CDC and President Trump has threatened Europe with more tariffs ...The Hill - 58m -
Trump to meet NY gov over pipeline, congestion prices
President Trump said he will meet with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) at the White House on Friday to discuss plans for an energy pipeline that would run through the Empire State. “The governor of ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Trump: Government shutdown would be 'purely on the Democrats'
President Trump said Democrats would be "purely to blame" for a government shutdown after House Republicans passed a funding bill that is uncertain to pass in the Senate.NBC News - 39m -
Trump on Greenland: 'We really need it for national security'
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Trump was asked about the possibility of annexing Greenland and claimed it would be needed for "national security."NBC News - 47m -
America is breaking its own maritime law — and China knows it
We have a legal obligation under the Merchant Marine Act to maintain sufficient maritime capacity for national defense and commerce.The Hill - 50m -
Oversight Democrats launch review of crypto reserve 'poised to enrich' Trump
House Oversight Democrats are encouraging President Trump to abandon his plans for a crypto reserve, calling it a strategy to enrich himself at taxpayer expense. The reserve, announced by Trump ...The Hill - 50m -
Putin says he's open to ceasefire, but wants to eliminate 'causes of this crisis'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is open to a 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the U.S., but suggested vague terms for his support, including wanting to eliminate the root “causes of this ...The Hill - 56m