Sandy Dietrich, the sister of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has clarified that she and her immediate family do not personally know the individuals featured in the viral photograph that has circulated widely on social media. The photo in question, which was recently shared by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account, depicts eight people wearing blue T-shirts with the phrase “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” standing in front of a Trump 2024 flag.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Sept. 4, Dietrich, who also resides in Nebraska, confirmed that her family “weren’t close” to the people in the image. “We didn’t know them,” she added.
Dietrich, who has stated her own political preferences, emphasized her focus on her own voting choices. “I know who I’m voting for. That’s all I can control,” she said.
The photo that Trump shared was originally posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Charles Herbster, a former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate. Herbster’s spokesperson, Rod Edwards, later confirmed to the Associated Press that the people in the photograph are indeed distant relatives of Tim Walz. “The family in the picture are the descendants of Francis Walz, who was the brother of Tim Walz’s grandfather,” Edwards said in a statement. “They’re all Walzes and spouses.”
The individuals in the photograph have since verified their relationship to Governor Walz. In a statement provided to the AP, they explained that they had gathered for a family event after Walz was selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. “We had T-shirts made to show support for President Trump and J.D. Vance and took a group picture,” the statement read. “That photo was shared with friends, and when we were asked for permission to post the picture, we agreed. The 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: ‘Nebraska Walz’s for Trump.’”
This development comes amid recent scrutiny of Governor Walz’s family, particularly following social media posts by his brother, Jeff Walz, who has reportedly expressed opposition to his sibling’s political platform, according to CNN.
The “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” photo and subsequent discussions highlight the broader family dynamics and political affiliations that have surfaced as Tim Walz campaigns as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. As Walz and Harris prepare for the upcoming election, family connections and political endorsements continue to draw significant public and media attention.
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In related political news, Kamala Harris recently discussed her candidacy and the moments leading up to Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Harris recounted receiving the call from Biden informing her of his decision to endorse her as the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee. Harris shared that her initial thoughts were more focused on Biden’s decision rather than her own political future. “It was Joe Biden, and he told me what he had decided to do. And I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ And he said, ‘Yes,’ ” Harris recalled. “My first thought was not about me, to be honest with you. My first thought was about him.”
Harris, who had served as Biden’s vice president, expressed that the endorsement and the opportunity to run for president were significant honors. “My first thought was about him,” she said, emphasizing Biden’s clarity and her own gratitude for the endorsement.
