Democrat vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz was called out on Tuesday after he appeared to use language generally reserved for Iran as he referred to Israel. He made the statement during the vice-presidential debate between him and Republican rival J.D. Vance, hosted by CBS News in New York on Tuesday.
According to a report in the New York Post, asked whether he would support or oppose a pre-emptive strike by Israel on Iran to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon, he said, “Iran, uhhh... Israel's ability to defend itself is fundamental... The expansion of Israel and its proxies is an absolute fundamental necessity for the United States.”
Walz did not clarify whom he believed to be Israel’s “proxies", the report said. Iran-backed groups Hezbollah and Hamas are commonly referred to as proxies of Tehran.
This was the first question put before Walz, who is the running mate for incumbent US Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Reacting to Walz’s "gaffe", the Republican Jewish Coalition wrote on X, “‘Israel and its proxies’ – what the hell is Tim Walz talking about?”
Other social media users, seemingly from the Republican camp, weighed in too, with one suggesting that the language showed Walz was "pro-Iran".
Answering the same question as Walz, Vance said he would support whatever Israel decided to do in a scenario in which Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
“Look, it is up to Israel what they think they need to do to keep their country safe,” he said, as per the New York Post. “We should support our allies wherever they are when they’re fighting the bad guys... I think that’s the right approach to take with the Israel question."
According to Reuters, Walz and Vance, who have forcefully attacked each other on the campaign trail, mostly struck a cordial tone during the debate, instead saving their fire for the candidates at the top of their tickets, Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.