Running influencer Kate Mackz, known for her viral interviews with public figures while jogging, has landed in hot water after posting a video from the White House featuring Trump administration press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The clip, which offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the West Wing, quickly sparked a fierce backlash online-most notably from Hope Walz, daughter of former vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
Hope Walz, 2, took to TikTok to criticize Mackz for “normalizing” the Trump administration. She argued that running is inherently political and a privilege not accessible to all, citing her father’s influence on her perspective. Walz accused Mackz-who previously interviewed her father during his campaign-of trying to “straddle the fence” politically by engaging with both Democratic and Republican officials
In her viral video, Walz said, “Running is a political act. And who taught me that? Tim Walz.” She went on to claim that the Trump administration’s policies, including cuts to social services and environmental programs, have harmed the running community and marginalized groups Walz also expressed frustration that Mackz’s interview with her father remains pinned atop Mackz’s social media profiles, calling it “disrespectful” given the influencer’s recent White House engagement
Mackz, who has nearly 800,000 followers on TikTok, has not directly responded to the controversy. The debate has ignited broader conversations about the role of influencers in politics and the risks of appearing to legitimize controversial figures through high-profile interviews
