Jake Tapper, a prominent journalist at CNN, has called on the public to “stop being awful” in light of recent bullying directed at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. In a post shared on social media platform X on December 27, 2023, Tapper condemned the harassment aimed at Walz, particularly following a video that surfaced showing individuals yelling derogatory slurs outside the governor’s residence.
The video, initially posted on December 26, depicts a man shouting an ableist slur while others in a nearby car cheer him on, honking their horn in approval. Tapper criticized the toxicity of such behavior, stating, “Everyone really needs to take a breath and stop being awful, stop rewarding awfulness, and stop promoting awfulness with your algorithms. Happy & fulfilled & confident people don’t spend time doing any of this.”
Background on the Harassment
Governor Walz has faced increased aggression since former President Donald Trump used the same slur against him earlier in December. Trump made his remarks in a post on Truth Social, expressing concern over crime in Minnesota and labeling Walz as the “seriously ret—ed Governor of Minnesota.” Such language has sparked outrage and concern among various political leaders and citizens alike.
In response to the slurs, Walz characterized the language as laden with “cruelness” and “meanness.” He expressed his dismay during a press conference, questioning whether people were comfortable with the president’s words and highlighting the potential dangers posed by such rhetoric. “This creates danger,” he stated. “I’ve never seen this before: people driving by my house and using the r-word in front of people. This is shameful.”
Family Reactions and Broader Implications
The governor’s daughter, Hope Walz, also addressed the derogatory language in a TikTok video. She shared her frustrations regarding the impact of her father’s treatment, especially concerning her brother. “The president calling my dad what he did has unleashed a storm regarding offensive language towards me, my family, and specifically my brother,” she said. Her emotional response underscores the personal toll that political attacks can take on families.
Hope Walz’s remarks highlighted the broader implications of such aggressive language in politics, questioning the normalcy of allowing public figures to attack each other without accountability. “How is it okay that the president of the United States can call somebody, anybody, doesn’t matter who they are, and then all of his freaking cult members come and attack those people and that person’s family?” she asked in her now-deleted video.
The incident has sparked conversations surrounding the need for civility in political discourse. Jake Tapper’s appeal for a more respectful approach resonates amid a climate where political bullying and hate speech can escalate quickly, particularly on social media platforms.
As these events unfold, it is clear that the dialogue surrounding political language and the treatment of public officials remains urgent, with many calling for a reassessment of how individuals engage in political discourse.
