Walz slams Trump as "un-American" for saying he'd use military against U.S. foes
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Tim Walz speaks at a rally on Oct. 14 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photo: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz on Monday denounced as "un-American" former President Trump's recent claim that he'd use the military against "the enemy from within."
Why it matters: Walz's remarks are yet another example of the Harris campaign's increased willingness to attack Trump directly, as polls show the race is in a dead heat with only three weeks left to Election Day.
- At a rally in Pennsylvania Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris played a montage of clips of Trump calling his opponents the "enemy within."
- Harris told the crowd the clips show Trump to be "increasingly unstable and unhinged" and after "unchecked power."
- President Biden last week called Trump "un-American" after the former president amplified misinformation about the federal response to recent deadly hurricanes. FEMA's chief has said the false claims undercut relief efforts.
Driving the news: Trump on Fox over the weekend suggested turning the National Guard or regular military against the "enemy from within" on Election Day, including "radical-left lunatics," should chaos ensue.
- "It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary by the military," Trump added.
- He suggested that his political opponents, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), are more dangerous than outside actors like Russia and China, which he said a "smart president" can handle.
State of play: At a campaign event in Wisconsin Monday, Walz called Trump's comments "dangerous" and told the crowd the "enemy from within" Trump was talking was "Americans who don't support him."
- "You know who he's talking about? He's talking about you," the Minnesota governor added.
- "As someone who wore this nation's uniform proudly ... the idea of sending U.S. military personnel against American citizens makes me sick to my stomach," Walz said.
- "It's a call for violence, plain and simple. And it's pretty damn un-American if you ask me," he added.
Zoom out: While Trump has long declared himself a staunch supporter of the military, he also has a record of disparaging members of the armed services.
- This isn't the first time Trump has suggested using the military to accomplish his political goals. He has previously floated plans to use the military for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
- Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, who served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023, told journalist Bob Woodward in his new book "War" out this month that Trump is "a fascist to the core."
Go deeper: Sunday Snapshot: Walz's rural push and Trump's "enemy from within"
