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‘What Are You Talking About?’: CNN Panel Gets Heated As Guest Brings Up Walz’s Sexuality

A CNN panel got weird when one guest brought up Walz's sexuality. [Screenshot/Rumble/CNN]

[Screenshot/Rumble/CNN]

Julianna Frieman Contributor
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A CNN panel got weird Monday morning when David Frum, a staff writer for The Atlantic, brought up Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz’s sexuality.

CNN host Kasie Hunt started the conversation by mentioning Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s comments Sunday to CNN’s Dana Bash about Walz greeting his wife at a campaign event with a firm handshake instead of a hug or a kiss. Vance told Bash during the interview that Walz’s behavior was not normal.

Bash, who joined Monday’s panel, told Hunt that she didn’t understand Vance’s point and that she “can’t believe” the topic was being discussed. Bash explained that Walz first branded Vance as “weird” because of similar conduct.

“Democrats for so long have brought a knife to a gun fight when it comes to the rhetoric of Donald Trump, and they’re trying to be more in that space,” Bash said.

Frum chimed in by saying Vance spends too much time online.

“A lot of what he says is going to be incomprehensible to you unless you participate in or have some acquaintance with this strange underworld that he comes from,” Frum said.

“I’m gonna say this — it’s not nice, it’s not true. What he’s trying to suggest is that Tim Walz is a sexual deviant of some kind,” Frum said, eliciting an audible “What?” from panelists.

Matt Gorman, a former senior adviser for Republican Sen. Tim Scott’s 2024 presidential campaign, emphatically interjected as Frum tried to continue voicing his thought. (RELATED: JD Vance Calls Out CNN For Ignoring Own Guest, Covering For Tim Walz On Iraq Deployment)

“What are you talking about? That’s ridiculous, David,” Gorman said among the crosstalk. “No. That’s ridiculous!”

Frum pointed at Donald Trump Jr.’s account on X, where the former first son posted the video of Walz shaking his wife’s hand.

“Totally normal to greet your wife with a firm handshake and a bro hug/back slap. Tim Walz isn’t weird at all, guys,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote on Sunday, responding to the footage from Aug. 6.

Frum said “the ugliest parts of America” congregate online and have engaged in criticism of Walz’s handshake.

“That’s why people think he’s weird. He’s so brilliant, he’s so capable. So, why is he so filled with rage and contempt for others?” Frum asked.

Hunt seemed stunned that Frum called Vance “brilliant,” questioning whether he meant to give Trump’s running mate “credit.” The CNN host thanked Gorman for pushing back at Frum before changing the subject.