(Rightallegiance.com) – A recent campaign video released by Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday has ignited a wave of criticism, primarily focused on a lighthearted exchange between Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. In the video, Walz humorously describes his preference for “White guy tacos,” a comment that has sparked backlash on social media, with many accusing the duo of mocking White people.
The video, intended to showcase the candidates’ personalities, took an unexpected turn when Walz said, “I have White guy tacos, and . . .” as he and Harris discussed their favorite foods. Harris responded with a sarcastic tone, asking, “What does that mean? Like mayonnaise and tuna? What are you doing?” Walz playfully replied that his tacos were “pretty much” just ground beef and cheese. Harris continued the banter, asking, “Do you put any flavor in it?” to which Walz admitted, “Uh, no,” eliciting laughter from Harris.
However, the light-hearted exchange did not sit well with everyone. Critics of Harris and Walz quickly took to social media to express their disapproval. Some labeled the conversation as racist, while others argued that there was a double standard at play, suggesting that if a Republican had made a similar remark about a different racial group, the backlash would have been far more severe.
Prominent conservative voices were among the first to voice their concerns. Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire sarcastically commented, “See, folks, it’s funny that white people hate spices! Not racist at all! Just funny!” Fox News columnist David Marcus criticized the video, stating, “This isn’t cute. Walz is being used as a clown to mock White people. If Walz doesn’t like spicy food, that’s fine, but it has nothing to do with being a White guy.”
The controversy extended beyond social media as political figures weighed in. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas referenced the video in his own commentary, recalling a previous incident where he had responded to similar remarks by saying, “Hispanics are not tacos.” Conservative speaker and writer Ian Haworth also criticized Walz’s remark, arguing that it would “cause riots if it was done in reverse by a Republican.”
The video also drew comparisons to other potentially inflammatory remarks. Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire speculated on the potential reaction if a similar comment had been made by a Republican about Black people, saying, “Crazy that a presidential candidate can just casually let out some blatant anti-white racism and nobody cares. Imagine if Donald Trump said that a ‘black guy taco’ was made with fried chicken and watermelon. Nuclear meltdown.”
Not all of the criticism was from predictable corners. Brian Shea, a journalist and apparent fan of Walz, voiced his own concern, saying, “I really like Tim Walz, but as someone who also really likes cooking with flavor, I will tell you that black pepper is far from the top spice level in Minnesota.”
Critics also took aim at Harris, accusing her of perpetuating negative stereotypes about White people. Alt-right commentator Jack Posobiec specifically accused Harris of mocking White people for a “popular anti-white meme online” that suggests they don’t season their food.
Despite the controversy, supporters of Harris and Walz were quick to defend the pair. Micha Efran, a political organizer for the Texas Democratic Party, criticized conservative outrage over the video, pointing out the perceived irony in their response. “These are the guys calling democrats easily offend-able and hypersensitive,” Efran posted on X, targeting The Daily Wire’s Walsh for his reaction.
While the Harris-Walz video continued to stir debate, former President Donald Trump found himself embroiled in his own controversy. Critics took aim at Trump over remarks he made on Thursday, where he sarcastically compared the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Congressional Medal of Honor. Trump’s comments were met with sharp criticism, particularly from Virginia Democratic congressional candidate Eugene Vindman, who stated, “Trump dishonor [sic] Medal of Honor recipients, our nation’s highest military award for distinguished acts of valor. He deserves nothing but disdain and disqualifies himself from public office.”
The Harris campaign video, coupled with the ongoing criticism of Trump, underscores the increasingly polarized nature of American political discourse as candidates and their supporters navigate the complexities of public opinion and social media in the lead-up to the next election.