You’ve seen the clips. One guy is jumping around on a stage in Pennsylvania like he just won the lottery, and the other is at a podium in Wisconsin calling him a "dip****." It's weird. Honestly, the 2024 election cycle gave us a lot of strange pairings, but the ongoing beef between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and billionaire Elon Musk is probably the most personal.
It didn't stop when the ballots were counted.
In early 2026, the rhetoric has actually managed to get sharper, fueled by a massive fraud scandal in Minnesota and a series of social media barbs that feel more like a schoolyard fight than a political debate. If you’re trying to keep track of who said what and why they seemingly hate each other so much, you aren't alone. It's a mess of stock market jokes, clown emojis, and serious allegations of government corruption.
The "Dips--t" Remark and the Jump Heard 'Round the Internet
It basically all started in October 2024.
Tim Walz was in Madison, Wisconsin, campaigning with Barack Obama. He was doing his "Midwestern dad" routine, but with a sharper edge. He looked at the crowd and brought up Musk’s appearance at a Trump rally in Butler. You remember the photo—Musk in an all-black "Dark MAGA" hat, leaping into the air.
"Elon's on that stage, jumping around, skipping like a dip****," Walz told the crowd. He didn't hold back. He called Musk Trump’s actual "running mate" and claimed the billionaire was trying to "buy an election."
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Musk, who isn't exactly known for taking criticism quietly, hit back on X almost immediately. He didn't just defend himself; he went for the jugular, telling Walz, "You’re gonna lose." He followed up by saying that saving the American people from hearing Walz speak for four years was worth every penny he spent on the campaign.
Then came the memes.
Musk started posting the clown emoji. A lot. He even shared a meme of Walz with the caption "It's as if the 🤡 emoji came to life." It was petty. It was loud. And it set the tone for everything that followed in 2025 and 2026.
The Tesla Stock Trolling
Fast forward to March 2025. The election was over, but the bitterness was still fresh. Walz, still the Governor of Minnesota, held a town hall titled "The People vs. Musk."
Think about that for a second. A sitting governor naming a public event after a private citizen.
During the event, Walz pulled out his iPhone and showed the crowd his Stocks app. He admitted he added Tesla to his watchlist just to get a "boost" when the price dropped. "225 and dropping," he joked. He even told Tesla owners they should use dental floss to peel the logo off their cars if they felt embarrassed.
It was a risky move for a politician.
Musk’s response was a masterclass in "clapping back." At the time, Tesla’s stock was struggling, but J.D. Vance was in the White House as Vice President. Musk tweeted: "Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the White House and thank the Lord."
The "Yo Timmy" era had officially begun.
By May 2025, the tables turned. Tesla stock surged 45% in a single month, hitting a $1.12 trillion market cap. Musk didn't forget the dental floss comment. He posted a screenshot of the soaring stock price with the caption, "Yo Timmy, how’s your day bro?" accompanied by—you guessed it—the clown emoji.
Things Get Serious: The 2026 Fraud Scandal
While the stock market bickering felt like entertainment, the tone shifted drastically as we entered 2026.
Right before New Year’s, a viral video from YouTuber Nick Shirley began circulating, alleging a massive fraud scheme involving daycare centers in Minnesota. Elon Musk didn't just watch it; he amplified it to his hundreds of millions of followers. He started calling Walz "Traitor Tim Walz" and accusing his administration of overseeing a "hub of fraudulent money laundering."
This isn't just Twitter drama anymore.
Federal prosecutors have estimated the fraud could top $9 billion. The Trump administration actually paused federal funding to child care in Minnesota because of it. Walz has been forced into a defensive crouch, calling the attacks "vile, racist lies" because many of the defendants are of Somali descent.
But the pressure worked. On January 5, 2026, Walz announced he wouldn't seek reelection.
What You Need to Know About the Feud
- The "Un-elected" Label: Walz frequently refers to Musk as an "un-elected, South African, nepo-baby." He’s leaning into the idea that Musk has too much influence over government policy without ever being on a ballot.
- The DOGE Factor: Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a massive sticking point. Walz argues it's "promising corruption" to let a man regulate the very industries he owns.
- The Demonization Debate: In April 2025, Walz explicitly said, "we should demonize" people like Musk. He tried to clarify that it’s not about being successful, but about being a "greedy bastard" and not paying taxes.
- The Physicality: From "skipping" to "jumping," Walz often mocks Musk’s physical presence and energy, while Musk mocks Walz’s voice and facial expressions.
Why This Actually Matters
It’s easy to dismiss this as two powerful men with big egos yelling at each other on the internet. But there’s a deeper shift happening here.
We are seeing a total breakdown of the traditional "arm's length" relationship between government officials and major industrial leaders. Usually, a governor wouldn't spend half a town hall talking about a CEO's stock price. Usually, a CEO wouldn't call for a governor to face "potential execution" as some in the MAGA crowd did in early 2026—a sentiment Musk has amplified through the accounts he chooses to engage with.
It’s a feedback loop.
Walz attacks Musk to rally the Democratic base that views billionaires as the root of all evil. Musk attacks Walz to show his "Dark MAGA" followers that he’s a fighter who can take down the "bureaucratic establishment."
The Minnesota fraud scandal is the perfect example of this. Is there real fraud? Yes. Federal charges have been filed against dozens of people. Is the $9 billion figure debated? Absolutely. Walz says it’s much lower. But in the world of X and 24-hour news cycles, the nuance is lost. The "Yo Timmy" memes and the "dip****" comments have created a situation where neither side can back down without looking weak.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights
If you're following this saga, don't just get caught up in the name-calling. There are real-world implications for how you should digest this information.
First, verify the numbers. When you see a claim about $9 billion in fraud or a 40% stock drop, check the source. In 2026, information moves faster than the truth. The $9 billion figure cited by prosecutors is an estimate; the state's official audit may tell a different story later this year.
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Second, understand the "DOGE" influence. Musk's involvement in government efficiency isn't just a title. It affects federal funding to states like Minnesota. If you live in a state where the governor is feuding with the federal government's efficiency leads, expect delays in federal grants or increased scrutiny on state programs.
Finally, watch the "Logo Removal" trend. Walz’s suggestion to remove Tesla logos was a joke, but it reflects a real "brand damage" Tesla is facing in progressive circles. If you’re an investor or an owner, recognize that the car has become a political statement.
The feud between Tim Walz and Elon Musk is a preview of the new political reality: where policy is made through memes, and governance is a series of "claps back."
Stay informed by following the actual court filings in the Minnesota fraud cases rather than just the X threads. The legal reality is usually much more boring—and much more important—than the social media circus. Take a look at the official Department of Justice press releases regarding the "Feeding Our Future" and daycare fraud investigations for the most grounded facts.