The Democratic National Convention: Tim Walz Accepts Vice Presidential Nomination
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former high school teacher, made history by officially accepting the nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, August 21. Walz, serving as Kamala Harris’ running mate, delivered a powerful speech addressing critical policy issues such as health care, Social Security, and Medicare.
Walz’s acceptance speech followed notable addresses by former President Bill Clinton, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the convention on its third night.
Fact-Checking Walz’s Claims
Claim: “[Trump and Vance] will repeal the Affordable Care Act.”
In response to this claim, it is essential to note that President Trump has expressed intentions to find an “alternative” to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. Recently, former Vice President JD Vance also indicated a priority on overhauling Obamacare in an interview with NOTUS. While Trump has proposed changes to the ACA, his administration has not explicitly called for its repeal.
Claim: “They will gut Social Security and Medicare.”
Contrary to Walz’s claim, President Trump has shown support for protecting Social Security and Medicare. In fact, Trump’s policies emphasize safeguarding these entitlement programs, with specific references to preventing any cuts to them.
Claim: “Take Donald Trump and JD Vance…their Project 2025 will make things much harder for people who are just trying to live their lives.”
Project 2025, an initiative by The Heritage Foundation, has been distanced from the Trump campaign, although there are connections between people associated with the project and Trump’s administration. Despite these ties, Trump has denied any direct link between his campaign and Project 2025, emphasizing its independence from his political agenda.
Claim: “We passed paid family and medical leave.”
Governor Walz’s statement about passing paid family and medical leave in Minnesota is accurate. The program, set to commence on January 1, 2026, will provide eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of partial pay to care for family members, recover from illnesses, or address personal safety concerns.
Fact-Checking and Verifying Claims
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