Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said during a podcast interview that he regrets his 2024 debate performance against Vice President J.D. Vance and claimed he would “beat the sh*t out of him now” in a debate setting, remarks that aired Tuesday and quickly drew attention, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Walz, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024 and ultimately lost alongside the party’s ticket, made the comments while speaking with Tim Miller on the Bulwark podcast.

The exchange revisited Walz’s debate against Vance in October 2024 and his assessment of how he handled the encounter.

“I would beat the sh*t out of him now if I could, and I would call that out!” Walz said during the interview, after acknowledging what he described as mistakes and missed opportunities during the debate.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

MORE NEWS: Soros Prosecutor Arrests an ICE Agent in Texas After Shooting of Venezuelan Migrant [WATCH]

Walz told Miller that he accepts responsibility for his performance and said he was constrained at the time by campaign strategy.

“I’ll own it, but Tim, you’ve been around this long enough to know when you’re on a ticket, you take your orders,” Walz said. “I am a good team player.”

Reflecting on the debate itself, Walz said he struggled to respond in real time to Vance’s arguments and delivery. “It was strange to me to be in the presence of someone, who I couldn’t see a tell on him when he lied,” Walz said. “I’m a terrible liar.”

He continued by comparing his own demeanor to Vance’s performance style, saying, “He’s smooth. I never claimed to do that, but I’m pretty effective, but I’ll take the criticism.”

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

Following ongoing debates over border security and immigration policy in 2026, do you support stricter enforcement measures?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from RVM News, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

During the October 2024 debate, Walz also made several statements that drew scrutiny at the time, including remarks about his personal history and policy positions.

He referenced the debate moderators’ fact-checking, claiming, “When they fact-checked it, I think he had 38 misstatements. They said I had two. One of them was that Trump doesn’t pay taxes. I’ll stand by that.”

Walz said he began publicly discussing his debate regrets in January following the election and acknowledged criticism from within his own party.

“People asked me, What would you have done differently? Well, we would have won. And we didn’t,” he said. “Which means you do own some of that.”

Close

MORE NEWS: Safe Cities USA Exposes Socialist Los Angeles Candidate to Her Own Failed Policies [WATCH]

The governor also criticized what he described as Vance’s policy arguments during the debate, including claims related to housing prices and immigration. “My argument is much better,” Walz said.

“He’s making the case that housing prices are up because of immigration and that we should build on federal lands. It was such a crazy thing.”

Walz added that he believed he was distracted during the debate by tangential controversies rather than focusing on policy.

“If you remember, this was right in that moment of eating dogs and cats. I took that bait and thought that that was the argument of how outrageous it was. That was not the argument,” he said.

The remarks come as Walz continues to make media appearances, revisiting the 2024 election and his role on the Democratic ticket.

While Walz did not announce any future political plans during the interview, his comments reignited speculation about whether he intends to remain active on the national political stage.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.