With only days remaining before the pivotal November 5 election, Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz has found himself at the center of a social media firestorm. During a campaign event in Detroit, Walz referred to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk as a “gay guy” while criticizing tax policies that benefit the ultra-wealthy. Walz commented, “If you’re a billionaire—Elon Musk, for example—that guy, that gay guy… Michigan knows that word. Look, that dude got a tax cut.” The offhand remark, intended to underscore what Walz views as problematic tax breaks for billionaires, has sparked significant backlash online.

Social media responses were swift and divided. Musk, a vocal supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump, responded on X, saying, “I have no problem being called gay tbh,” appearing to defuse the comment. However, the reaction online remained polarized. Many users mocked Walz for his phrasing, while others took offense, perceiving his choice of words as potentially disparaging toward the LGBTQ community.

Critics questioned why a prominent figure from a party that advocates for LGBTQ rights would make such a remark. “The Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Tim Walz, called Elon Musk a gay guy. This is beyond pathetic,” one user on X wrote, expressing disappointment in the Democrats. Another user questioned Walz’s intent, asking, “Why would the party that champions gay rights and LGBTQ positive messaging be using ‘Gay’ as a pejorative towards Elon?”

The fallout comes as Walz campaigns vigorously through Michigan’s Democratic strongholds, taking the opportunity to highlight what he considers to be failures in Trump’s economic approach, including tariffs aimed at boosting American manufacturing. Walz sharply criticized Trump’s understanding of economic policy, remarking, “You would have thought in his nearly 80 years on the planet, he could have learned what a damn tariff was and how it worked.”

The Harris-Walz campaign has yet to issue an official response to Walz’s controversial comments. As the political stakes continue to climb, some question whether this incident will affect Democratic turnout or provide a boost to the opposition in the crucial final days leading up to Election Day.