Donald Trump's attempts to label Vice President Kamala Harris as an extremist met a roadblock Wednesday when a Democratic strategist revealed Gov. Tim Walz was once a Trump appointee.
Walz (D-MN) was among 10 governors appointed in 2019 to serve on the Trump administration's bipartisan Council of Governors, as a press release from that year shows.
Walz was joined by Govs. Steve Bullock (D-MT), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Mike DeWine (R-OH), David Ige (D-HI), Ned Lamont (D-CT), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), Michael Lynn Parson (R-MO), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), the press release shows.
Ige and Hutchison served as co-chairs. Pritzker's name was spelled incorrectly.
Council appointees serve two-year terms and must include five members from both political party. The council also includes federal officials whom they advise on issues that include disaster response, military family support, and federal budget considerations.
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Walz currently serves as co-chair.
Strategist Sawyer Hackett shared the press release with his followers on X Wednesday in a post since viewed more than 600,000 times.
"It’s going to be pretty hard for Republicans to call this guy 'extreme,'" wrote Hackett.
David Hogg, co-founder of the gun control advocacy group March for Our Lives, said the appointment raised the question, "If Trump thinks Tim Walz is such a radical and awful governor why would he appoint him?"
Travis Akers, a retired Naval Intelligence Officer and Newsweek opinion writer, replied with a jab at Trump's running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and his complicated comments about a popular soda brand.
"Just thought you would like to know that Donald Trump appointed Gov. Tim Walz to his Council of Governors, and complemented his work and leadership," Akers wrote. "Anyway, have a great day with Diet Mountain Dew guy."
Conservatives responded to Hackett's post by emphasizing the bipartisan nature of the council and applauding Trump for including politicians with dissenting views.
"Sounds like he was trying to be non partisan in his selections," X user Ronnie Serpico replied. "Imagine thinking this is a bad thing."
Trump has been quick to condemn Walz as a radical liberal in campaign blasts promising his ascent to the White House would mean "hell on earth."
Liberals responded by sharing images of the Minnesota governor holding a sleeping piglet and tying a young girl's shoe.
