Fact Check: Is the video of Tim Walz dancing to Beyonce with a cowboy hat real? Viral video debunked

A video of Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz allegedly dancing to Beyonce’s TEXAS HOLD’EM made the rounds on social media on September 5. X user @TexasRepublic71 shared the clip featuring a person in a red cowboy hat, a black crop top paired with black leather chaps, and black cowboy boots.

The individual’s face could not be figured out due to the hazy quality of the footage. The person appeared to have glasses on, apparently resembling that of Tim’s.

Although the OP did not claim it was Tim, he inquired in the caption who the individual was. In response, several people said it could be Tim, with some mocking him. Another X user @merissahansen17 reposted the video, seemingly addressing the Minnesota Governor as “TIMMMMAY” in the caption.

However, a Community Note under @TexasRepublic71’s post clarified the video was altered, and attached a link to the original video, which was uploaded by drag artist Matthew Krumpe on February 19.

In the original video, Matthew's face was distinctly visible. This proves the clip circulated on X is a deepfake, and it certainly did not feature Tim Walz.

Earlier in August, a similar video went viral on Facebook where the Democratic VP pick was dubbed "Tampon Tim". In that footage, a person in a cowboy hat and cropped shirt was grooving to OhGeesy's GEEKALEEK feat. Cash Kidd.

According to USA Today, Tim Walz's face was superimposed on the original dancer's face. In their report, the outlet quoted University of California, Berkeley professor and digital forensic expert Hany Farid:

"This is clearly a face-swap deepfake in which the original face in the video was replaced with Gov. Walz’s face...There are clear visual artifacts throughout the video, particularly when the hand moves in front of the face."

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Tim Walz's mother debunks viral photo claiming his family is pro-Trump

On September 4, Charles Herbster, a former agriculture chairman working for Donald Trump, shared a photo featuring the former US President posing with a group of people wearing t-shirts that read "Nebraska Walz's for Trump".

However, Tim’s mother Darlene Walz reportedly clarified the people in the viral picture were their distant family members. Darlene’s daughter Sandy Dietrich also resonated with her mother’s statement, saying they were not acquainted with those members, nor were close with them.

According to Forbes, Tim Walz’s supposed family members who exhibited their support for Trump in the picture were his siblings' second cousins, descending from Francis Walz, a brother of Tim’s grandfather.

The photo was reposted on Truth Social which did not go unnoticed by Trump. He mentioned Tim's estranged brother Jeff in a response and thanked him for his alleged support, adding:

"I look forward to meeting you soon!"

Tim and Jeff’s mother Darlene reportedly said she intends to “stay out of” the conflict between two brothers. Dietrich also reportedly urged Jeff, who has recently posted cryptic posts about Tim, to be lenient in his criticism.

Jeff Walz's Facebook comments from last week where he openly expressed his disapproval of Tim Walz's views created a stir amongst netizens. In response to a Facebook user who urged him to support Trump, Jeff wrote:

"I’ve thought long and hard about doing something like that! I’m torn between that and just keeping my family out of it."

However, in an interview with NewsNation Wednesday, Jeff Walz said he did not want his personal opinion of his brother or his own political ideologies to influence voters' decisions.