Fury erupted on social media Monday after Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz posted two photos of his dog, Scout, leading to confusion and controversy.
Both photos were shared on Walz’s social media accounts in 2022, but they feature different dogs despite both captions referring to Scout. One photo shows Walz with Scout, accompanied by a caption wishing the dog a happy birthday. The other photo, taken months later, shows Walz with a different dog at a park, with a caption noting Scout’s enjoyment of the day.
Conservatives quickly claimed Walz was misleading the public by presenting two different dogs as Scout. This accusation gained traction when Minnesota GOP strategist Dustin Grage posted the photos side-by-side, suggesting deception.
The claim was quickly debunked. A community note clarified that the second photo was taken at a dog park where Scout was present but not shown in that particular image. The video from the park confirms Scout’s presence off-camera and dispels the idea of any trickery.
Critics called out Grage for his flawed argument, noting that Walz frequently posts photos of Scout, the black lab, and that the park photo was simply of another dog. Many social media users expressed frustration over the misleading claims and praised the community note feature for setting the record straight.
The controversy highlights the lengths some will go to challenge political figures, even resorting to misleading claims about something as innocuous as a family pet. Scout, who has been with Walz’s family since 2019, continues to make regular appearances on the candidate’s social media.
