Memes, jokes, silly photos of Walz emerge after he’s picked to be VP candidate

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On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was announced as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the Democratic ticket for president.
The announcement put the spotlight on Minnesota and its second-term governor with a folksy demeanor, spurring jokes and memes.
Minnesota pride
Minnesotans jumped at the chance to poke fun at their eccentricities and highlight their culture on the national stage.
There were jokes about foods, like the tater tot hotdish, Jello salad, Special K bars and lefse seen here.
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Midwesterners busting out a celebration meal upon hearing about Walz's nomination. pic.twitter.com/e2uOEAliCg
— Leah From South Dakota (@leah_from) August 6, 2024
Some referenced beloved musicians with Minnesotan origins, like The Replacements, which started in Minneapolis in 1979.
There were hints all along. pic.twitter.com/AXEXjEVEIw
— DEC (@freealonzo) August 6, 2024
This website is going to reach levels of Minnesota that scientists previously did not believe to be possible.
— Josh Martin🥥🌴 (@JoshMartinMpls) August 6, 2024
Minnesotans love to reference the epic Halloween Blizzard of 1991.
Just wait until Tim Walz tells the country the story of the Halloween Blizzard of 91’.
— Rachel Brougham (@RachelBrougham) August 6, 2024
Big day for our great state. Time for an update to the Minnesota Karma Train
byu/biggern inminnesota
It's time now for us to deliver Operation Megasota to the nation, let's make it happen
byu/friedkeenan inminnesota
People also joked about Walz having “Big Dad Energy” and Minnesota Nice qualities like being helpful to neighbors.
(St Paul specific tweet)
— John Moe (@johnmoe) August 5, 2024
Walz is way more the Fratallone’s hardware store on Grand near Dale than he is the Fratallone’s over by Macalester.
BREAKING: Potential running mate Tim Walz spotted outside VP Kamala Harris’ residence “tweaking the lawn mower’s carburetor” because he “didn’t like that darn knocking sound it was making”
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) August 4, 2024
Tim Walz reminds me of the guy who caught me stealing beer from his ice fishing shed when I was 14 and instead of calling the cops or telling my parents he sat me down and explained why I shouldn’t steal. Then he told me about how he got out of going to ‘Nam while we fished.
— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) August 5, 2024
I’m not a single issue voter but “this man did bus duty” is close to enough by itself
— Holly Anderson 🍇 (@HollyAnderson) August 6, 2024
The chances of a "Aw, fer cryin' out loud!" in the VP debate just rose to 99.9%
— E.E. Knight (@EE_Knight) August 6, 2024
#Walz #BigDadEnergy
Silly photos of Walz
Walz is not afraid to look frumpy and often sports a plain T-shirt and a ballcap, attire he prefers to the suit he must throw on for political engagements.
— Matt Wagenius (@mattwagenius) August 6, 2024
— Moira Donegan (@MoiraDonegan) August 6, 2024
In honor of of @GovTimWalz being the VP nominee, here is my favorite photo I took of him. Here he is dying of cuteness while welcoming kids on the first day of school in 2019 pic.twitter.com/v3vrMbKodE
— Evan Frost (@efrostee) August 6, 2024
That time Governor Tim Walz stopped to pet a cat while on his One Minnesota Listening Tour as Governor-elect in 2018. @GovTimWalz pic.twitter.com/zzIynL5r3y
— Lorenzo The Cat (@LorenzoTheCat) August 5, 2024
Ideas for who could play him on ‘SNL’
As many have pointed out the Maya Rudolph already can do a spot-on Harris impression, some wondered who could now share the stage.
SNL get Steve Martin on the phone NOW pic.twitter.com/7AbHn2zAFU
— Adam (@AdamJSmithGA) August 6, 2024
And everyone saying Steve Martin is the "must play Tim Walz" on SNL, I raise you... Rick Moranis. pic.twitter.com/hMbsy37Fst
— Pigeon (@j_d_fielder) August 6, 2024
Tim Walz is like if Steve Martin and Wallace Shawn had a baby pic.twitter.com/dvIJ1dyCoL
— Leslie Templeton🇮🇪 (@Somesaylezzels) August 6, 2024
Pop-star comparisons
Chappell Roan is a breakout star of 2024 with her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” and Charli XCX’s new album “Brat” has led some to call this summer “brat summer” and make videos of Harris to songs from the album. With the announcement, Walz was subjected to the pop star treatment.
It’s a brat summer, we’re back pic.twitter.com/TIdMtYYIsz
— Liz Charboneau (@lizchar) July 25, 2024
A Midwest princess pic.twitter.com/ko9YN9DXiI
— 💫 (@heyjaeee) August 6, 2024
Jokes about his name
There was this play on the now-infamous Harris quote, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”
You think you just waltzed out of a coconut tree ?
— Joe Gunn (@joegunn) August 6, 2024
Walz, which is pronounced “walls,” also works in the famous lyrics “to the window, to the wall” in the 2003 song “Get Low” by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins.
TO THE WINNDOOOW!!!!! TO THEEE WALZ!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/v9XrHo3x5t
— 🍉 Black 🇭🇹 Aziz 🇳🇬 aNANsi 🍉 (@Freeyourmindkid) August 6, 2024