During the first and only vice presidential debate of this election cycle Tuesday evening, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz admitted he “misspoke” about being in China during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
Walz has repeatedly claimed he was in China for the protests during his year-long stint as a high school teacher in the southeastern Chinese town of Foshan.
As recently as in February, Walz said during an episode of the podcast “Pod Save America” that he was in Hong Kong during the protests. “I was in Hong Kong when it happened – I was in Hong Kong on June 4th when Tiananmen happened … Quite a few of our folks decided not to go in,” he said.
Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks during the Vice Presidential debate in New York City, Oct. 1, 2024.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
It appears Walz did not actually travel to the region until August 1989, according to local newspaper clippings obtained by ABC News. The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which led to a deadly government crackdown by the Chinese government, lasted from April 15 to June 4 that year — ending about two months ahead of Walz’s travel to the country.
Pressed to clarify news reports that disprove such claims, Walz said that he “misspoke” in his earlier claims but then reiterated that he “was in Hong Kong and China during the democracy protest.”
While evading the question over whether he was telling the truth about the timeline of his travel, Walz defended his character by admitting he has gaffes, has “not been perfect” and is a “knucklehead at times.”
This marks another instance of Walz appearing to have misspoken about his past.
The Democratic vice presidential pick previously came under fire for his military record, with critics attacking the way he has characterized his experience and pointing out instances of him failing to correct inaccuracies.
In addition to Walz repeatedly saying that he retired with a rank he achieved but did not retire with, the Harris-Walz campaign admitted he misspoke when stating in 2018 that he carried weapons of war “in war.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently made headlines when he announced that he would be reversing his decision to visit China following scrutiny of his military record. The decision to cancel the trip came after several news outlets reported on discrepancies in Walz’s military service record, raising questions about his credibility and integrity.
Walz, a former member of the National Guard, has long been known for his commitment to serving his country and his state. However, recent reports have called into question the accuracy of his military record, specifically regarding his rank and the medals he received during his time in the National Guard.
In response to the scrutiny, Walz decided to cancel his planned trip to China, citing the need to address the concerns surrounding his military record before moving forward with any international engagements. In a statement, Walz expressed regret for any confusion or doubt that may have been caused by the discrepancies in his record and emphasized his commitment to transparency and honesty.
The decision to cancel the trip has sparked a debate among political analysts and commentators, with some praising Walz for taking responsibility and addressing the concerns head-on, while others criticize him for not being more forthcoming about his military record from the start.
Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it is clear that Governor Walz’s decision to reverse his plans to visit China demonstrates a willingness to confront controversy and prioritize integrity in public service. Moving forward, it will be important for Walz to address any lingering questions about his military record and ensure that he maintains the trust and confidence of the people he serves.
In conclusion, the scrutiny of Governor Tim Walz’s military record and his subsequent decision to cancel his trip to China serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public office. While the controversy may have raised doubts about Walz’s credibility, his willingness to address the concerns head-on is a step in the right direction towards rebuilding trust with the public. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact Walz’s political career in the long run, but one thing is certain: honesty and integrity should always be top priorities for those in positions of leadership.
