Former Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz has come under fire after footage emerged which critics claim shows the Democrat wishing for the news of President Donald Trump's death.
In the video from a Labour Day picnic in Duluth, Minnesota, Mr Walz can be heard saying: "Look I get it, you get up in the morning and you doom scroll through things.
"Although I will say this, the last few days you woke up thinking there might be 'news'."
The crowd can be heard laughing at the Minnesota Governor's remark in relation to theories circulating online which claimed the US President was in poor health - and even some suggestions he had died.
Kamala Harris's running mate added: "Just saying, just saying, there will be news sometime... Just so you know, there will be news."
The crowd can be heard laughing at the Minnesota Governor's remark
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The comments attracted a wave of criticism online towards Mr Walz from influential conservatives - and even lawmakers.
GOP House Majority Whip Tom Emmer wrote: "Wishing ill on others doesn’t make you a leader - it makes you small. Minnesotans deserve better."
Congressman Pete Stauber, meanwhile, said: "Tim Walz 'toning the rhetoric down,' huh?
"Is there more fraud in Tim's words or his state government?"
The comments attracted a wave of criticism online towards Mr Walz from influential conservatives
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Conservative influencer Benny Johnson fumed: "Tim Walz was very excited about the left-wing rumours claiming President Trump had died. This guy is sick."
Just months ago, Mr Walz had threatened to "bully the s***" out of Mr Trump during a fundraising dinner for the Democratic Party, claiming that the President is an "existential threat" and a "dictator".
The Minnesotan said: "Maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, a little bit more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this.
"The thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully."
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Mr Walz had threatened to 'bully the s***' out of Mr Trump during a fundraising dinner for the Democratic Party
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Mr Walz has hinted at a potential run for US President at the next election - despite his crushing defeat as Ms Harris's running mate against the Trump-Vance ticket in 2024.
During an interview with The New Yorker Radio Hour, he declared: “If I think I could offer something... I would certainly consider that.
“I’m also, though, not arrogant enough to believe there’s a lot of people that can do this.
“I’ll do whatever it takes. I certainly wouldn’t be arrogant enough to think that it needs to be me.”
Mr Trump quashed rumours that he was dead after issuing a short statement over the weekend.
On his Truth Social platform, the US President said: "Never felt better in my life. Also, DC is a crime free zone! President DJT."
Then, during his first public appearance in a number of days, the Commander-in-Chief gave a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.
He told reporters that he will move the US's Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama, as well as the success of a military operation which saw a strike take out a drug-carrying boat, killing 11 Venezuelan cartel members.