A recent campaign video featuring Tim Walz, the vice presidential candidate for the Harris campaign, has stirred controversy. In the video, Walz humorously describes his favorite meal as “White guy tacos,” which has drawn sharp criticism on social media.
The controversy intensified with Vice President Kamala Harris’s sarcastic remarks in the video. As Walz explains his preference for tacos with ground beef and cheese, Harris responds with a quip: “What does that mean? Like mayonnaise and tuna? What are you doing?” Walz’s follow-up about the lack of spice in his tacos prompts Harris to joke, “Do you put any flavor in it?” This exchange, while intended as light-hearted banter, has been perceived by some as mocking White people.
Critics argue that the video exemplifies a double standard in political discourse. They suggest that if a Republican, such as Sen. JD Vance from Ohio, had made similar comments about a racial or ethnic group, the backlash would have been severe. Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire remarked, “See, folks, it’s funny that white people hate spices! Not racist at all! Just funny!” Fox News columnist David Marcus added, “Walz is being used as a clown to mock White people. If he doesn’t like spicy food, that’s fine, but it’s not a commentary on his race.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, also criticized the comments, saying, “Hispanics are not tacos,” indicating that reducing cultural identity to a food stereotype is problematic.
Conservative voices, including Ian Haworth and Matt Walsh, argued that if the situation were reversed, with a Republican making a similar joke about a minority group, it would lead to a media uproar. Walsh noted, “Imagine if Donald Trump said that a ‘black guy taco’ was made with fried chicken and watermelon. There would be a nuclear meltdown.”
Even supporters of Tim Walz took issue with his remarks. Journalist Brian Shea, who appreciates Walz, mentioned, “I really like Tim Walz, but as someone who also enjoys cooking with flavor, I will tell you that black pepper is far from the top spice level in Minnesota.”
On the other side, defenders of Harris and Walz dismissed the criticism as overblown. Micha Efran, a political organizer, argued that those condemning the remarks were being unnecessarily sensitive.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump faced criticism for sarcastic comments he made about the Presidential Medal of Freedom versus the Congressional Medal of Honor. Critics accused Trump of dishonoring military valor with his remarks, with Virginia Democratic congressional candidate Eugene Vindman stating, “Trump dishonored Medal of Honor recipients, our nation’s highest military award for distinguished acts of valor.” Willie Geist from MSNBC also weighed in, suggesting that Trump’s comments reflect a broader disregard for those who serve in the military.
WATCH:
Tim Walz: “I have white guy tacos.”
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) August 15, 2024
Kamala Harris: “What does that mean? Mayonnaise and tuna?”
Got to love the casual anti-white racism that would cause riots if it was done in reverse by a Republican.
JD Vance: “I have black guy tacos.”
Donald Trump: “What’s that?…” pic.twitter.com/hOkqHkI7uS