In a video that quickly went viral on August 15, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stirred up controversy with their exchange about “white guy tacos.” The lighthearted conversation took a sharp turn when Walz admitted to using unseasoned meat, leaving Harris visibly surprised and amused. Her reaction to his bland cooking habits drew laughs but also sparked intense debate online. Many netizens expressed discomfort, labeling the remarks as racially insensitive and inappropriate, while others dismissed the uproar as exaggerated humor.
The discussion of “White House flavors” and the viral nature of the banter have led to wider conversations about cultural stereotypes and the implications of such jokes in political contexts. While some viewers found the exchange funny, others took issue with the comments, arguing they reinforced negative stereotypes and were out of touch with the sensitivities surrounding race and culture.
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz hold a campaign event (getty image)
Harris-Walz and the ‘white guy taco’
The Harris campaign released a promotional video on Thursday featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic nominee Tim Walz engaging in a light-hearted conversation about food. During the exchange, Walz jokingly describes his cooking style, saying, “I have white guy tacos.” Harris responds with a playful retort, asking, “What does that mean? Like, mayonnaise and tuna? What are you doing?” Walz humorously clarifies, “Pretty much—ground meat and cheese.”
The clip, intended to showcase their camaraderie, has sparked mixed reactions online, with some finding the banter entertaining while others criticize it for reinforcing stereotypes. The playful tone highlights cultural differences in food preferences but also inadvertently opens up debates on the nuances of humor in political contexts.
Struggling to stifle a laugh, Harris inquires, “Do you add any seasoning to it?” Walz responds, “Uh, no.” The Vice President clearly appears disheartened to learn that Walz’s idea of flavor enhancement is merely incorporating cheese into his dish. With a touch of humor, Walz elaborates, “I’m simply not a fan of spices.” He goes on to say, “Black pepper is the pinnacle of spice in Minnesota,” and expresses a wish to broaden his culinary experience. “They advised me to be cautious and inform her of this: that black pepper represents the zenith of spiciness in Minnesota.” Harris reassures him that this is certainly manageable, noting that they have some cantaloupes. “You’ll be just fine.”.”
Social media reacts to Harris-Walz’s promotional video
What began as a light-hearted critique of Walz’s culinary preferences has escalated into a major social media controversy, with users expressing outrage over what they deem as “racist and repugnant” comments. While some applauded the video as a “remarkable piece of communication,” appreciating the “genuine conversation, camaraderie, and authenticity,” others were distinctly displeased by the remarks. “What a racist and offensive pairing of individuals aspiring to lead the United States.
Walz claims he enjoys ‘white people’ tacos, and Kamala assumes he means ‘mayonnaise and tuna’? On a taco? Kamala is married to a white man and feeds him mayonnaise tacos?” one irate X user commented. In contrast, another user praised the duo’s conversation, saying, “I don’t care who you are—this exchange between Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is incredibly relatable. They are like us.” Few, however, appeared to be impressed with Walz. “Regardless of your opinion on Tim Walz, the fact that he’s finally bringing attention to the issue of ‘white guy’ tacos, which has plagued the Midwest for generations, should be celebrated. It’s time for healing to begin.”
‘Tim Walz is lying about liking white guy tacos.’
Mike Cernovich commented, “Tim Walz is such a habitual liar and deployment dodger that I decided to verify if he was truthful about not seasoning his food,” referencing his acclaimed recipe. What seemed like a benign conversation sparked a significant backlash from Republicans. Critics accused the VP contender of being dishonest about his culinary preferences, particularly given that Walz won first place in the 2016 “Hotdish Off” contest with his Turkey Taco Tot Hotdish, which notably contains various spices.