Walz’s Tesla Tirade: A Case of Political Blindness
Recently, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who previously attempted to ascend to the vice-presidency, found himself in the spotlight during an event in Wisconsin. With an air of self-satisfaction, he took a jab at Tesla’s declining stock prices, seemingly relishing the moment to deride CEO Elon Musk.
However, in his fervor to score political points, Walz overlooked a rather glaring contradiction: Minnesota’s public pension funds are heavily invested in Tesla, holding close to 2 million shares valued at approximately $361.5 million. It’s a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
During his Tuesday address, Walz gleefully shared how he tracks Tesla’s stock performance on his iPhone, stating:
“I was saying, on my phone, I know some of you know this on the iPhone, they’ve got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day. $225 and dropping. If you own one, we’re not blaming you. You can take dental floss and pull the Tesla thing off, you know. Just telling you.”
WATCH:
If you need a little boost during the day, check out Tesla stock pic.twitter.com/KBEh6pOZLW
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) March 19, 2025
While his comments may have garnered a few laughs, the reality is that Walz’s lighthearted mockery has serious implications for the very constituents he claims to represent. His state’s substantial investments in Tesla’s stock directly influence the financial wellbeing of Minnesota’s state employees and retirees.
According to the MSBI Public Markets Asset Listing as of June 30, 2024, here’s a closer look at what Walz is dismissively cheering for:
- 1,615,511 shares of TSLA in retirement funds ($319,677,317 in value).
- 211,332 shares of TSLA in non-retirement assets ($41,818,376 in value).
- Total TSLA investment in Minnesota: 1,826,843 shares worth $361,495,693.
Kevin O’Leary, known for his candid commentary, criticized Walz’s comments during a CNN appearance, stating:
“That poor guy didn’t check his portfolio in his own pension plan for the state. It’s beyond stupid what he did. He’s talking down a three-and-a-half percent weighting in his own pension plan. I mean, what’s the matter with that guy? He doesn’t check the well-being of his own constituents in the state—that’s their investment fund. What a bozo!”
Indeed, while Governor Walz attempts to score political points at the expense of Tesla, it is the pensioners of Minnesota who are left to bear the brunt of his indifference. This incident serves as a reminder of the disconnect that can exist between political rhetoric and the fiscal realities faced by ordinary citizens.
