Tim Walz’s Daughter Sparks Outrage by Comparing Alleged MS-13 Gang Member to Jesus Christ

In a moment that has rocked social media and political discourse, Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Governor and former Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, ignited a firestorm this week by posting a TikTok in which she appeared to compare Jesus Christ to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man alleged by immigration officials to have ties to the violent MS13 gang.

Walz’s comments, intended to reflect on humanity and empathy, have instead become the subject of fierce national criticism and intense scrutiny.

The TikTok That Shook the Internet

In the now viral video, Hope Walz, speaking solemnly into the camera, says:

“I believe in the good of people and like humanity… humans, you know, deep down at our core, we care about each other. But that’s really being tested.”

Moments later, she escalated her message, saying:

“If Trump had been alive when Jesus was walking the Earth, he would have deported him too for being a gang member.”

The implication that an alleged criminal like Abrego Garcia could be equated with Jesus Christ immediately enraged critics across the political spectrum. Conservative pundits labeled the comparison “blasphemous” while others accused Walz of “radicalizing humanitarianism” to dangerous ends.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Maryland resident from El Salvador, has become a focal point in the immigration debate. Despite living peacefully in the United States since 2011 and maintaining a clean criminal record, he was suddenly detained and deported in March 2025 under the Biden administration’s immigration policy.

According to court documents and media reports, a federal judge had explicitly ordered a stay on his deportation amid concerns he would be tortured or killed upon return. Nevertheless, Garcia was forcibly removed, sent to El Salvador’s mega prison CECOT, and is now being held without charge or trial in conditions described by observers as “brutal” and “inhumane.”

The MS13 Allegations: Fact or Fiction?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited “unconfirmed associations” with MS13 as grounds for his removal. Legal experts and immigrant rights advocates say the claim was completely unsubstantiated. Garcia’s attorneys maintain that he had no affiliation with any gang, nor any history of criminal behavior. His deportation, they argue, was based solely on misinformation and political pressure.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) recently traveled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia and described the situation as “a catastrophic failure of justice.” Speaking at a press conference, Van Hollen declared:

“The U.S. government unlawfully deported a man with no criminal background to a country where he is now living in terror. We must bring Kilmar home.”

President Bukele Says “We Will Not Release Him”

El Salvador’s controversial President Nayib Bukele has refused all requests to release Garcia, calling him “a danger to the Salvadoran people” which critics argue is more about political theater than legal reality.

Despite international pressure, Bukele has made it clear that Garcia will not be returning to the United States anytime soon.

Hope Walz: Echoing Her Father’s Values?

Hope Walz’s comments have not emerged in a vacuum. Her father, Tim Walz, a former educator and progressive lawmaker, has long emphasized the moral dimension of immigration. During the 2024 Vice Presidential debate, Walz cited the Bible to condemn harsh immigration practices:

“To the least among us, you do unto me,” he said, quoting Matthew 25:40.

Hope’s comparison between Jesus and modern-day deportees may be an extension of this sentiment, but critics say she crossed a dangerous line. One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) read:

“This is what happens when your worldview is shaped by blind idealism. Jesus was not a gang member. To compare him to one is morally repugnant.”

Social Media Reacts: “Blasphemous,” “Insane,” “Compassionate”

The public response has been explosive

• Conservative figureheads branded the remarks “delusional” and “anti-Christian”
• Evangelical leaders demanded a retraction and apology from both Hope and Tim Walz
• On the other side, immigrant advocates praised her for “speaking from the heart” and calling out America’s hypocrisy”

One trending comment read:

“If Jesus came to America today as a poor refugee from the Middle East, he’d be locked in a cage or worse. Hope Walz may be the only one brave enough to say it.”

A Nation Divided Again

The saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the explosive reaction to Hope Walz’s commentary underscores a deeper crisis in American politics. There is a fractured moral compass on immigration, religion, and justice. As the 2026 midterms loom and faith-based voters reassert their power, comments like Walz’s may have far-reaching implications.

Is this the beginning of a reckoning? Or just another 24-hour outrage cycle?

Either way, the message is clear. In America’s war over compassion and control, even Jesus is now a political pawn.