"Put up or shut up now": Walz unleashes after announcing political exit
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The former vice presidential nominee abandoned plans to run for a third term as governor. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
A fired-up Gov. Tim Walz unloaded on GOP rivals Tuesday as he vowed to use his remaining time in office to push back against the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The gloves-off approach is a preview of what's to come now that Walz has abandoned his plans to run for reelection.
The big picture: As he took questions for the first time since announcing his exit, a defiant Walz pledged to "fight ... till the very end to make this state better" and predicted that Republicans are going to "lose the governor's race dramatically."
- "Game's over for them now. It was all me. I was the bad guy, whatever. Well, put up or shut up now," he said of his GOP rivals. "Expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you've never been ridden."
Zoom in: Walz addressed a range of topics in a roughly 15-minute Q&A with reporters.
🗳️ On bowing out: When asked if he was pressured to drop out, Walz said he made the decision with his family after it became apparent that remaining in the race would attract ongoing pressure and attacks from the White House.
- "We are under assault like no other time in our state's history because of a petty, vile administration that doesn't care about the well-being of Minnesotans," he said.
- He declined to comment on his weekend conversations with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is widely expected to enter the race as soon as this week.
🔎 On fraud: Walz said the "buck stops with me" on addressing the issue, but questioned why large cases in red states haven't gotten the same reaction from the White House.
- He criticized the top federal prosecutor on the case for "speculating" about the totals "with no factual information" and said he needs the Legislature to "help me on prevention."
- The White House defended the prosecutor, who has served under multiple administrations, saying on X that Walz is "really spiraling — a truly sick individual."
📱 On Trump's post: A visibly angry Walz blasted the president's Truth Social post sharing conspiracy theories about the murder of Melissa and Mark Hortman as "freaking evil," and said it put the Hortman children and his family "at risk again."
- "For those legislators who went and shed crocodile tears at her funeral, shame on you," he said. "Her children are asking you to do one thing in her name. It's to tell the president to stop doing this."
🏛️ On his final legislative priorities: "If Republicans think that I'm not coming to make us more safe on guns, they are sadly mistaken," he said of his calls for an assault weapons ban. "They are going to take votes on protecting our children or they're not going to get anything else done."
🏃 On his future: Walz said he hasn't given much thought to life after public office, except that he wants to run more marathons and would like to get back to teaching in some form.
What's next: His administration's response to fraud will return to the spotlight Wednesday, as the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform holds a hearing on misuse of federal funds in the state.