Former President Donald Trump called Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz a “shocking pick” to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
The Republican nominee for president added Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would have been a “stronger pick.”
Trump voiced his opinions on the matter on Fox News’s “Fox and Friends,” The Hill reported.
“I would say my reaction is, I can’t believe it. I never thought I was going to be the one who was picked,” Trump said Wednesday morning.
“He’s a very liberal man, and he’s a shocking pick,” Trump added. “I could not be more thrilled.”
Trump referred to Walz as a “smarter version” of Harris and “about the same as Bernie Sanders,” the independent senator from Vermont, even though Walz’s voting record is viewed as more moderate than Sanders.
Trump added Walz is weak on immigration and “very heavy into transgender.” The Minnesota governor has signed legislation that protects access to gender-affirming care.
The former president also spoke of Walz’s handling of the riots that occurred in his state after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police. Trump said that was the only time the two interacted while Trump was president.
Republicans have criticized Walz for being slow to activate the National Guard stop the riots.
Trump also opined that Shapiro would have been a better choice for Harris’ running mate.
He also reiterated claims by some Republicans that Shapiro was not picked because he is Jewish.
“I’m no big fan of Josh Shapiro. I know the state very well … but I would have said it would have been a better choice,” Trump said.
“I have very little doubt … it was because of the fact that he’s Jewish, and they think they’re going to offend somebody else,” Trump said.
He then repeated a previous statement he made that any Jewish person who votes for Democrats should “have their head examined.”
Harris announced her choice of Walz Tuesday.
Harris interviewed Walz, Shapiro and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for the position.
Harris ultimately picked Walz because of the chemistry they had plus his background and policy record.
