Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota launched another rant against White House senior advisor Elon Musk after admitting he had an “unhealthy” reaction to the Tesla CEO.
Waltz previously came under fire after he joked Tuesday that he was tracking Tesla stock and that its decline gave him “a little boost” during an event. Walz complained that Republicans had no sense of humor at a similar event Saturday in Rochester, Minnesota.
“This guy bugs me in a way that is probably unhealthy,” Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, said before being interrupted by laughter, cheers and applause. “But I have to be careful about being a smartass. I was making a joke. These people have no sense of humor. They are the most literal people, most literal people. But my point was they’re all mad, and I said something I didn’t — you know, probably shouldn’t have about a company.”
WATCH:
President Donald Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Jan. 20 executive order, after announcing Musk would serve as chairman Nov. 12. Since Trump established DOGE, the agency has identified over $115 billion in savings, an average of $714.29 per taxpayer, according to its website.
“He is an idiot,” an audience member said about Musk, the world’s richest man, prompting Walz to rant about layoffs.
“Agreed. Agreed. So I make — I make the case, they’re all butt-hurt about the Tesla thing, but they don’t care. The disrespect they have shown to employees at the Minneapolis VA who care for our veterans and they fire them,” Walz said. “They don’t care. So we will have the conversation about efficiency in government and about doing that, but none of us believe for a second they are thinking about this. Oh, we fired everybody that’s dealing with Ebola. Then he went into the Oval Office wearing a hat. I don’t ever want to hear anybody talk about decorum and respect or that. Wearing a hat, coming in there, richest man in the world.”
Minnesota’s pension fund holds over 1.6 million shares of Tesla. The fund provides retirement pay for first responders and teachers, among other government employees.
“If I’m the richest man in the world, I’m, like, out on the street handing out the money and be fun as hell just to help people out,” Walz said. “Not, this guy. Not this guy.”
Musk returned fire with a social media post of his own, jabbing at the Minnesota governor.
Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord
https://t.co/etwL4KocIx
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2025
“Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord,” Musk posted on X Wednesday.
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