Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz found himself in the crosshairs of critics this weekend after a campaign event meant to showcase his hunting prowess instead left him looking like Elmer Fudd.
The Minnesota governor, who has repeatedly touted his hunting background on the campaign trail, invited press to watch him in the annual Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener near Sleepy Eye.
The three-hour hunting excursion yielded more ridicule than pheasants for the self-proclaimed expert hunter.
Footage that quickly went viral on social media showed Walz awkwardly hunched over, struggling to load a Beretta A400 semiautomatic shotgun.
In the video, a frustrated Walz can be heard muttering, “It never fits quite right,” as he fumbles with the firearm he has clearly never handled before.
Conservative commentators were quick to pounce on the humiliating video.
“Tim Walz looks as comfortable loading a shotgun as Kamala does answering basic questions,” Buck Sexton quipped on X (formerly Twitter).
“Tim Walz claimed he carried ‘weapons of war in combat’ but he can’t load a shotgun?” Country singer John Rich said. “This guy is beyond weak. My little sister could beat him up. Ya gotta watch this.”
Take a look —
Tim Walz claimed he carried “weapons of war in combat” but he can’t load a shotgun? This guy is beyond weak. My little sister could beat him up. Ya gotta watch this👇 pic.twitter.com/nd7CneGWBI
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) October 12, 2024
The reference to “weapons of war” alludes to Walz’s past statements supporting gun control measures, including an assault weapons ban. Walz claimed in the past that America “can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.”
Walz was never deployed in a combat zone.
CBS News reported that during the entire three-hour hunt, Walz failed to get off a single shot. This lackluster performance did little to bolster his claims of being “one of the best shots” during his time in Congress.
The Harris-Walz campaign has been leaning heavily on the Minnesota governor’s Midwestern roots and hunting background in an attempt to court rural and male voters, demographics where the ticket has been struggling in recent polls.
Walz hunting misfire may have done more harm than good.
Conservative commentator Jason Robertson didn’t miss the opportunity to take a shot at Walz’s military service claims, which have previously been the subject of “Stolen Valor” accusations.
“After Watching Tim Walz trying to handle a shotgun, I officially retract any criticism from him avoiding combat zones,” Robertson posted. “He is a HERO. He is so bad with a weapon that he saved American Lives skipping the War Zone.”
Just weeks ago, Walz boasted about his friendship with David Hogg, a prominent figure in the gun control movement, bragging that, “David Hogg is a good friend of mine.”
The Harris campaign has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.