‘I Thought It Was a Real Flex’: Tim Walz Mocked for Highlighting His Lack of Wealth After Election Loss

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is reflecting on his unsuccessful vice-presidential run alongside Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, expressing disbelief over middle-class Americans’ choice of billionaire Donald Trump. In a candid interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Walz described his confusion and frustration with the outcome, believing his modest background would resonate with voters.

“I thought it was a real flex when the Wall Street Journal pointed out that I might have been the least wealthy person to ever run for vice president,” Walz admitted. He emphasized his working-class credentials as a former high school teacher and argued that his background, paired with Harris’s role as a country attorney, made them the “middle-class ticket.”

“How in the world did we lose to a billionaire or a venture capitalist, when we were making the case of a country attorney and a high school teacher?” Walz questioned. He believed voters would relate to someone who “knows where we’re coming from” and has “had to pay his bills and still does.”

Despite his earnest approach, voters ultimately sided with Trump—leaving Walz stunned. “And this is the one that keeps me up at night,” he confessed, adding, “I focused my whole career on the middle class… but apparently, in this election, not the majority of Americans did.”

Walz pointed to Trump’s record as further evidence that voters made a surprising choice. He cited Trump’s history of “not paying workers” and his efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act as reasons their ticket should have appealed to working Americans. Still, he admitted, “We as a Democratic Party and we as a ticket did not do a good enough job of showing them that we understand where they’re coming from.”

Walz’s reflections quickly sparked ridicule online, particularly for his comment about being the least wealthy vice-presidential candidate.

“So he thought he was ‘flexing’ by virtue signaling his relative poverty? Maybe don’t spend all your money going to China, Tim,” one user mocked. Another added, “The words ‘flex’ and ‘Tim Walz’ should not be in the same sentence.”

Critics also pointed to the perceived hypocrisy of his running mate’s campaign image. “The ‘flex’ may have been underscored by the fact that Kamala frequently wore a $70,000 Tiffany’s necklace while campaigning,” someone noted.

Others dismissed Walz’s comments altogether. “It’s not about money. It’s about merit,” one person wrote. Another Trump supporter remarked, “Trump knows real flexing isn’t about being poor, it’s about making America rich again!”

While Walz grappled with the results, his remarks have ignited debate—and humor—about political messaging, relatability, and the role wealth plays in American elections.