In a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump’s recent comments, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz cautioned Americans against accepting the former president’s rhetoric of using military force against U.S. citizens as normal. Speaking at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Walz called Trump’s words “pretty damn un-American,” emphasizing the dangerous implications of such threats.
During a Fox News interview, Trump was asked about potential violence on Election Day. Instead of addressing external threats, he claimed the real danger lies within the country. “The bigger problem is the enemy from within,” Trump remarked, referring to his political opponents as “radical left lunatics” and suggesting that military intervention might be necessary to control them.
Walz, Minnesota’s governor and a former member of the military, expressed his deep concerns. “He’s talking about you,” Walz told the rally attendees, explaining that Trump’s statements targeted anyone who opposes him. Walz highlighted his own service in the military, noting that the idea of deploying U.S. troops against American citizens was deeply troubling. “As someone who proudly wore this nation’s uniform, the thought of using the military to suppress Americans makes me sick to my stomach,” he added.
More Read
While Walz stopped short of labeling Trump’s comments as treason, he made it clear that the rhetoric encourages violence. “What I know is that it’s a call for violence, plain and simple,” he said.
Several former Trump administration officials have echoed similar concerns. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley described Trump as “the most dangerous person to this country,” and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper also warned that Trump’s comments should be taken seriously, especially in light of his previous statements about seeking retribution against political rivals in a potential second term.
Walz stressed that normalizing Trump’s rhetoric could have dire consequences, urging the public to recognize the extraordinary nature of the former president’s remarks. “If anyone wants to pretend that this is a normal conversation that Donald Trump is having, just dispel that,” Walz concluded.
