FACT FOCUS: False claims follow Minnesota governor’s selection as Harris’ running mate

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would be her running mate for the 2024 presidential election. This announcement led to an increase in misinformation about Walz, with some false claims circulating on social media even before Harris made her choice public.

Here's a breakdown of the facts:

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**CLAIM: Walz suggested investing in a "ladder factory" to help people illegally scale the U.S.-Mexico border wall.**

**THE FACTS:** This claim is incorrect. Social media posts have distorted Walz's comments from a recent episode of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.” During the segment, Walz criticized former President Donald Trump’s border wall plan by making a sarcastic remark about investing in a hypothetical ladder factory. Walz used this joke to emphasize the ineffectiveness of the wall and proposed alternative solutions for managing illegal crossings.

In the full interview, Walz discusses using technology, increasing border control agents, and maintaining a legal system that supports immigration. His comments were intended to address and prevent illegal immigration, not to endorse it. A misleading post on X (formerly Twitter) took Walz's joke out of context to suggest he supports illegal immigration, which is inaccurate.

**CLAIM: Walz redesigned the Minnesota flag to resemble the Somali flag.**

**THE FACTS:** Minnesota did unveil a new state flag and seal in May, but these changes were made to replace an old design considered offensive by Native Americans. The previous seal depicted a Native American and a white settler, which was viewed as disrespectful. The State Emblems Redesign Commission, formed during the 2023 legislative session, oversaw the new design process.

The commission, which included public officials, design experts, and representatives from various communities, aimed to create a design that accurately reflects Minnesota’s diverse history and culture. Andrew Prekker of Luverne designed the new flag, which features a dark blue outline of Minnesota with a white star and light blue elements symbolizing the state's waterways. The design was inspired by Minnesota’s history and identity, not by the Somali flag.

Prekker clarified that the flag's design was not influenced by Somalia or any other country. He emphasized that any perceived resemblance to the Somali flag is purely coincidental, stating that he was unaware of Somalia's flag before the controversy.

— Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin contributed to this report. 

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