Walz Faces Backlash for Comparing Trump’s Immigration Policy to Nazi Gestapo

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stirred a firestorm this weekend, unleashing a barrage of Nazi-era comparisons to slam President Donald Trump’s immigration policies during a University of Minnesota law school commencement address. Walz didn’t hold back, painting a dystopian picture of Trump’s deportation efforts as a ‘modern-day Gestapo’ operation, complete with masked agents, unmarked vans, and secret detentions. He called Trump a ‘tyrant’ and warned graduates they’re stepping into a ‘genuine emergency.’

The remarks triggered an avalanche of backlash from conservatives and Trump allies. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller blasted Walz’s rhetoric as ‘vile’ and ‘anti-American,’ accusing him of inciting violence. The Department of Homeland Security doubled down, calling the Gestapo comparison ‘sickening’ and highlighting a 413% surge in assaults on ICE agents. They made their stance crystal clear: illegal entry means arrest and deportation, no exceptions.

Critics didn’t stop there. The White House’s rapid response team and Republican communicator Matt Whitlock pointed to violent criminals apprehended by ICE in Minnesota, arguing Walz’s words dangerously demonize law enforcement. Kendall Qualls, a Republican challenging Walz for governor, flipped the script, branding Walz the ‘real tyrant’ for his heavy-handed COVID lockdowns and neighbor-snitching tip lines.

Walz’s history of inflammatory rhetoric isn’t new. He recently likened Trump’s immigration plans to Soviet ‘gulags,’ drawing similar outrage. His defenders might argue he’s sounding an alarm on authoritarianism, but critics see a pattern of reckless hyperbole that fuels division. As the 2026 midterms loom, Walz’s words could haunt his political future—or galvanize his base.