Speaking at a rally in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Walz transitioned from discussing the city’s steel roots and contributions in building tanks used to fight against the Nazis in World War II to referencing one of Robinson’s alleged comments in which he called himself a “black Nazi.”

“That iron from the northern Minnesota iron range fueled the steel mills here, right in the Lehigh Valley. Together it was our people that built the tanks that won World War II and freed the world from Nazi oppression,” he said.

“And I don’t know if you’ve noticed — Nazi tyranny — we’ve got folks running as Republicans for governor that are proud to refer to themselves as Nazis. Let’s not pretend there’s a gradual difference between the folks that are running here, that they’re running together,” he added.

Walz’s comments come after a CNN report released on Thursday alleged that Robinson used racist, antisemitic, and homophobic slurs on the forum “Nude Africa.” Robinson also allegedly called Martin Luther King Jr. “Martin Lucifer K**n,” supported the reinstatement of slavery, and posted sexually graphic comments on the site. All of these comments predate his time as lieutenant governor of North Carolina, a role he has served in since 2021.

Robinson denied the allegations in a video statement, slamming the report as “salacious tabloid trash” while also pinning the blame on his Democratic challenger in the race for governor of North Carolina, state Attorney General Josh Stein.

“Well, guys, the news media is at it again, my opponent is at it again. You all have seen the half-truths and outright lies of Josh Stein on these ads over and over again. And now a story leaked by him to CNN is appearing now. Let me reassure you the things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a prominent voice among the Tar Heel State’s Republicans, suggested Robinson’s race was no longer winnable, and outlined a choice that the lieutenant governor has following the allegations.

“If the reporting on Mark Robinson is a total media fabrication, he needs to take immediate legal action. If the reporting is true, he owes it to President Trump and every Republican to take accountability for his actions and put the future of NC & our party before himself,” he posted on X.

Robinson is still in the race after deciding not to drop out, but new polling after the report’s release indicates he is bleeding support. Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted the race from lean Democratic to likely Democratic. Polling from before the report’s release from RealClearPolitics shows Stein ahead of Robinson by nearly 10 percentage points, 49.2% to 39.8%.

Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Saturday, to which Robinson was not invited. Trump did not comment on the allegations in the report.