An interesting photo has been circulating online. It looks like a smiling family surrounded by a matriarch, all in matching T-shirts that say “Nebraska Vols for Trump.”
This photo is of Nebraska rancher, businessman, and former Republican candidate for governor, Charles W. Herbster’s social media site linked to the post on X. “The family of Tim Walz back in Nebraska wants you to know something…” he wrote.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, grew up in Nebraska and still has family there. The photo looks authentically Nebraskan.
It turns out the family is related to Mr. Walz. But they are distant relatives. He is descended from Francis Walz, brother of Mr. Walz’s grandfather.
Sandy Dietrich, Tim Walz’s sister, made it clear that the two branches of the family were not close.
“That’s not us,” Ms. Dietrich, who lives in Alliance, Neb., said in an interview. “We don’t even know them. We just never knew that side of the family.
Family members of Francis Walz told the Associated Press In a written statement that shortly after Mr. Walz was nominated, family members met.
“We made t-shirts and took a group picture to show support for President Trump and JD Vance,” the written statement said. “That photo was shared with friends, and when we were asked for permission to post the picture, we agreed.”
“The picture is real. The shirt is real,” the message continued. “The message on the shirt speaks for itself.”
For her part, when asked if she was voting for her brother, Ms. Dietrich said, “I’m a Democrat, so yes, definitely.”
But Mr Walz’s siblings also have a political rift. Mr. Walz’s other brother, Jeff Walz, has donated to Mr. Trump and comments on Facebook suggested he would not vote for his own brother’s ticket. “I am 100% against all his ideologies,” read one message from his Facebook account.
When one commenter suggested he was on stage with President Trump, a response from Jeff Walz’s account read, “I’ve thought hard about doing something like this. I’m torn between it and keeping my family away from it.
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