Tim Walz’s Controversial Ties to Muslim Cleric Who Promoted Pro-Hitler Film Spark Outrage

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is under intense scrutiny following revelations of his repeated associations with a Muslim cleric known for promoting antisemitic content and defending Hamas terrorism. As the nation gears up for the 2024 election, these connections are raising serious concerns about the potential influence of extremist views in a Harris-Walz administration.

The cleric in question, Asad Zaman, serves as the executive director of the Muslim American Society (MAS) of Minnesota. Over the years, Zaman has openly expressed support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and has shared materials that glorify Adolf Hitler. Despite his controversial views, Zaman has maintained a close relationship with Walz, appearing at several official events during the governor’s tenure.

Zaman's radical views have been well-documented. In 2015, he shared a link to a propaganda film titled The Greatest Story Never Told, a documentary that glorifies Hitler and is popular among neo-Nazis and QAnon conspiracy theorists. This film, released in 2013, is widely regarded as one of the most notorious pieces of antisemitic propaganda in recent years. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned the film, labeling it a favorite among extremists who peddle in Holocaust denial and other forms of antisemitism.

Zaman's inflammatory rhetoric has not been limited to social media. On October 7, 2023, the day Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 civilians, Zaman expressed his solidarity with the attackers. He posted a Palestinian flag on Facebook, accompanied by a message that justified the violence as a legitimate form of resistance against Israeli "occupation." This post, like many others from Zaman, did not condemn the terrorist group responsible for the massacre. Instead, it called on Arab and Muslim nations to reconsider their diplomatic ties with Israel, effectively endorsing a hardline stance against the Jewish state​.

Zaman's association with Walz dates back to the early days of the governor’s administration. In January 2019, just weeks after Walz took office, Zaman appeared alongside him at a press conference urging an end to a government shutdown. A few months later, in April 2019, Zaman delivered an invocation at Walz's state address. Their relationship continued, with Zaman attending a Ramadan event hosted by Walz in May 2019 and participating in a meeting on mosque security with the governor’s office in May 2023​.

The timing of these revelations is particularly troubling for the Democratic Party as it seeks to secure the Jewish vote in the upcoming election. Jewish voters, who have traditionally supported the Democratic Party, may find Zaman’s antisemitic views and Walz’s association with him deeply concerning. The ADL has already urged public officials to distance themselves from Zaman, highlighting the potential damage his rhetoric could cause to community relations and the broader political landscape.

Moreover, Walz’s ties to Zaman could provide fodder for Republican attacks during the election campaign. With Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by a narrow margin, according to recent polling averages, any controversy surrounding her running mate could have significant electoral consequences​.

Critics argue that Walz’s decision to associate with Zaman reflects poorly on his judgment and raises questions about the kind of individuals who might gain influence in a Harris-Walz administration. Sam Westrop, a terrorism researcher at the Middle East Forum, has warned that Walz's ties to Zaman indicate a troubling openness to anti-Israel extremists, which could have far-reaching implications for U.S. foreign policy under a potential Harris-Walz presidency​.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR