Sister of VP candidate says she suspects the Trump supporters are distant cousins.
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the family of Democrat rival Tim Walz after a photo showing them supporting the Republican presidential nominee spread online.
The viral image showed eight members of the Walz family wearing âNebraska Walzâs for Trumpâ shirts with a âTake America Backâ banner in the background.
The photo was shared earlier in the day by former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles W. Herbster.
NTD News spoke with Rod Edwards, a spokesman for Herbster, who confirmed the authenticity of the image. The photo, according to Edwards, shows family members from the paternal side of the Walz family, specifically descendants of Francis Walz, who was brother of Tim Walzâs grandfather.
âShortly after Governor Tim Walz was named the Democrat Party Vice Presidential nominee, our family had a get-together. We had t-shirts made to show support for President Trump and J.D. Vance and took a group picture. That photo was shared with friends, and when we were asked for permission to post the picture, we agreed,â the written statement said.
âThe picture is real. The shirts are real. We are the Nebraska Walz family and we are related to Gov. Tim Walz, our grandfathers were brothers. The message on the shirts speaks for itself, âNebraska Walzs for Trump.ââ
Sandy Dietrich, Walzâs sister, didnât recognize the people in the photo but said that she suspected they were distant cousins.
âWe werenât close with them. We didnât know them,â Dietrich said. She further declined to comment on their opposition to her brother.
Walz Family and Trump Support
Political differences among the Walz family first emerged when old social media posts by Walzâs older brother, Jeff, reemerged and circulated online. He expressed opposition to his brotherâs political beliefs and appeared to show support for the 45th president.
The older Walz said in a Facebook post that he had not spoken to his brother in eight years and that he was â100% opposed to his ideology.â He also revealed that his family was not made aware that Tim Walz was chosen as Democratic nominee Kamala Harrisâs VP pick.
Trump Family and Harris Support
By contrast, some of Trumpâs family have endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, including Trumpâs nephew, Fred Trump III. He recently said in an interview that his uncle doesnât care about people who serve in the military. He also wrote a book titled âAll in the Familyâ in which he alleges that he witnessed his uncle using racial slurs.
âDonaldâs worst nightmareâs is coming trueâthe old, white, racist is being beaten by a young, strong Black woman,â she wrote.
High-Profile Political Family Rifts
This isnât the first time that differences among families have caused political rifts.
âWe want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride,â the statement said.
âWe believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobbyâs decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.â
The Obama family has also been divided by political differences.
Along with members of the Walz family, the Kenyan-American half-brother of 44th President Barack Obama also publicly endorsed Trump on Wednesday. The older brother and former president share the same father.
âI am Malik Obama,â he wrote. âIâm a registered Republican and Iâm voting for President Donald Trump.â
Obamaâs half-brother also voted for Trump in 2016, citing his frustration with the Democratic Party. He even attended one of the presidential debates against Hillary Clinton as Trumpâs special guest.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original News Source Link – Epoch Times
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