Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate for the 2024 election, is drawing criticism for past comments praising the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) governance model. 

While teaching at a Nebraska high school in the 1990s, Walz reportedly lauded Chinese communism as a system that “everyone shares,” highlighting how the government ensures citizens receive food and housing.

In a 1991 article published in the Alliance Times-Herald, Walz explained to his students that the Chinese system promotes equality, stating that under communism, “everyone is the same,” with professionals like doctors and manual laborers earning the same wage. 

However, Walz glossed over the oppressive realities of the CCP’s one-child policy, inaccurately describing it as a simple tax on families exceeding the limit, rather than addressing the forced abortions and sterilizations carried out by the regime.

The resurfacing of these comments comes as Walz faces a House Oversight Committee investigation into his connections with Chinese officials. Critics argue that his views on communism and his apparent willingness to overlook human rights abuses raise red flags about his readiness for the vice presidency.

With the election approaching, the controversy surrounding Walz’s past remarks is likely to intensify scrutiny of his fitness for national office, particularly among voters concerned about the influence of China on Americans’ way of life.