Walz Alludes to Mark Robinson Controversy at Pennsylvania Campaign Rally

Speaking at a rally in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Walz pivoted from discussing the city's steel roots and contributions to building tanks used to fight the Nazis during World War II to a reference to one of Robinson's alleged comments in which he called himself a “black Nazi.”

“Iron from the Iron Range of northern Minnesota powered the steel mills here in the Lehigh Valley. Together, it was our people who built the tanks that won World War II and freed the world from Nazi oppression,” he said.

“And I don't know if you've noticed – the Nazi tyranny – we have Republican candidates for governor who are proud to call themselves Nazis. Let's not pretend that there's a progressive difference between the candidates here, that they're running together,” he added.

Walz’s comments come after a CNN report published Thursday alleged that Robinson used racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs on the “Nude Africa” forum. Robinson also allegedly called Martin Luther King Jr. a “Martin Lucifer K**n,” supported the restoration of slavery and posted sexually explicit comments on the site. All of these comments predate his tenure as North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, a role he has held since 2021.

Robinson denied the allegations in a video statement, calling the report “salacious tabloid trash” while placing the blame on his Democratic opponent in the North Carolina gubernatorial race, state Attorney General Josh Stein.

“Well, guys, the media is back, my opponent is back. You’ve all seen Josh Stein’s half-truths and outright lies in these ads over and over again. And now a story that he leaked to CNN is coming out now. Let me reassure you the things that you’re going to see in this story, these are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a leading voice among Tar Heel Republicans, suggested Robinson's race was no longer winnable and outlined a choice the lieutenant governor faces in the wake of the allegations.

“If the reports about Mark Robinson are a complete fabrication by the media, he must immediately take legal action. If these reports are true, he owes it to President Trump and all Republicans to take responsibility for his actions and put the future of North Carolina and our party before himself,” he wrote on X.

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Robinson is still in the race after deciding not to drop out, but new polls after the report were released indicate he is losing support. Larry Sabato's crystal ball has shifted the race from leaning Democratic to leaning Democratic. Polls taken before the report were released Clear and real policy shows Stein leading Robinson by nearly 10 percentage points, 49.2% to 39.8%.

Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Saturday, to which Robinson was not invited. Trump has not commented on the allegations in the report.