Tim Walz began his late-night debut Monday night with a call to end the Israel-Hamas crisis. The appearance of the vice presidential candidate Jimmy Kimmel Live! it fell on the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
“A little heavy today,” the vice-presidential candidate said. “1200 people dead, 46 Americans. The Vice President and I talk about making sure this never happens again, that Israel's security and the hostages are brought home, and that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza ends.”
The October 7 attacks led to an ongoing conflict that has left more than 40,000 Palestinians dead.
Walz also said he spent the day visiting the Nova Exhibit in Los Angeles, in remembrance of those killed in last year's attacks. While there, he spoke with a recently released Hamas hostage named Noa. “Like Noa said, 'We just want to dance again.' That's what we want to do,” Walz said.
Elsewhere in his late night debut, Walz talked about his time as a social studies teacher. “Social studies teachers tell you about this idea…that we may have different ideas, but we are united, we love democracy, let's have an election and then shake hands and admit the person who won, won,” he said.
In last week's vice presidential debate, Walz asked Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance if he thought Donald Trump had won the 2020 election. In one of the most talked about moments of the event, Vance didn't respond.
Walz also reflected on Kamala Harris choosing him as her running mate. “I certainly… never planned my life to be here, but I think my life has prepared me well,” he said. “I'm very proud of what we did in Minnesota. I ran for and won a congressional seat in a very red district for 12 years, and then [I became] Governor of Minnesota. I think people were watching, and we were doing things – I know Republicans say, “They're super radical!” Yes, we feed our children breakfast and lunch at school. It's a radical idea.”
Later, he confirmed the story that he had indeed missed Harris' initial phone call asking him to be his running mate, and shared that he now has his number saved in his phone as laundry.
“What happens if your laundry needs to get in touch with you?” Kimmel asked.
“I didn't think that far ahead,” Walz said.
Walz also spoke of his respect for Harris and his confidence in her ability to lead the country. “We get along very well. She's fantastic. It makes me laugh. And I think that's a good thing, anyway, I think a president should know how to laugh, not at someone, but laugh with things.
After the commercial break, Walz spoke about the trend of calling Republican politicians “weird,” a trend he unofficially began several months ago. Kimmel played a montage of clips showing Trump refuting the notion that he is weird.
“If you have to tell people numerous times that you're not weird, you might be,” Walz said.