A photograph present kin of vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz carrying T-shirts studying, “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.”
The Related Press confirmed the eight folks seen within the image are a few of Walz’s distant cousins.
A rumor circulating on-line in early September 2024 claimed a photograph confirmed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s relations carrying T-shirts studying, “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.”
Walz, a Democrat, is U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ operating mate towards former President Donald Trump, a Republican, within the 2024 presidential election
X customers, together with Matt Wolking (@MattWolking), posted (archived) the image. Wolking’s put up, which learn, “Tim Walz’s relations in Nebraska are voting for Trump,” had acquired almost 16 million views.
One other rumor claimed somebody manipulated the picture with an artificial-intelligence instrument, which might imply it was circulating underneath false pretenses. For instance, one put up on X confirmed yellow circles and arrows on the image that pointed to purported discrepancies within the variety of fingers on among the folks’s fingers. That person posted (archived), “Because of Walz’s for Trump we all know this isn’t AI in any respect. It is simply the Walz household is genetically predisposed to having 4 fingers.”
Whereas some users additionally questioned the apostrophe showing on the T-shirts, others, together with for instance conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec (archived) and conservative commentator Benny Johnson (archived), claimed the picture confirmed Walz’s “complete household.”
In fact, The Associated Press reported the picture was real and that the eight folks seen within the image are all distant cousins of Walz. In different phrases, Posobiec and Johnson posted misinformation.
The AP’s reporting cited Rod Edwards, a spokesperson for former Trump-endorsed Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster. Herbster appeared to put up the picture within the early-morning hours of Sept. 4, captioning it with, “Tim Walz’s household again in Nebraska desires you to know one thing… @realDonaldTrump @JDVance #SaveAmerica.”
The high-quality nature of the unique picture add helped to make clear that the claims about AI and folks having “4 fingers” had been merely resulting from some fingers being obscured by others.
Edwards instructed the AP, “The household within the image are the descendants of Francis Walz, who was brother to Tim Walz’s grandfather.” He added, They’re all Walzes and spouses.”
The descendants of Francis Walz confirmed their relationship to Tim Walz in a textual content message to The Related Press.
“Shortly after Governor Tim Walz was named the Democrat Celebration Vice Presidential nominee, our household had a get-together. We had t-shirts made to indicate assist for President Trump and J.D. Vance and took a bunch image. That picture was shared with mates, and once we had been requested for permission to put up the image, we agreed,” the written assertion mentioned.
“The image is actual. The shirts are actual. We’re the Nebraska Walz household and we’re associated to Gov. Tim Walz, our grandfathers had been brothers. The message on the shirts speaks for itself, “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.”
We reached out to Edwards to ask concerning the picture and can replace this story if we obtain additional particulars.
For additional studying, we beforehand reported the true story of Tim and Gwen Walz gifting a automobile to a next-door neighbor.
