“Got trapped in his own web of lies” — Internet rips into Tim Walz as he admits he misspoke about being present in China during Tiananmen protests

Tim Walz faces backlash after admitting he "misspoke" about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests. (Image via x/@tim_walz)
Tim Walz faces backlash after admitting he "misspoke" about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests. (Image via x/@tim_walz)

Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz made headlines following his debate with JD Vance on Tuesday, October 1.

When probed about his presence in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests of 1989, he conceded that he "misspoke," saying that he could be "a knucklehead at times.”

During a June 2019 interview with CNN, the nominee claimed to be present when "of course, Tiananmen Square happened." However, fact-checking has debunked these claims, pointing out that Tim Walz was in Nebraska at the time. He reportedly only left for China in August of that year, to teach in high school.

The internet was brutal in reacting, calling Tim Walz a "liar" and ridiculing him. "Walz got trapped in his own web of lies. He deserves it," one user stated.

"Walz is a perfect example of a politician caught in lies. Calling himself a 'knucklehead' is just admitting he can’t own up to the truth. It's pathetic! If you can't even remember your own history, how can you lead anyone?" one user questioned.
"'I’m a knucklehead' was the most honest answer a Democrat has given in a debate in years. Honestly don’t mind it since we all knew it already," another opined.
"Walz’s response was a complete meltdown. rambled for 2 minutes, called himself a “knucklehead,” and then *finally* admitted the truth. This is what happens when you get cornered with facts," someone dissed.
"Caught in a web of lies, Walz's story falls apart like a poorly built house," yet another joked.

Scores of those who watched the debate online did not take the governor's lies lightly, as one after the other, netizens ridiculed him.

"I could not stop laughing. He lies worse than a 4 year old!" one user declared.
"Did you see how bad he stuttered through that answer. He didn't practice that question. LOL," one user claimed.
"One of the strangest replies to a question by a politician that I have ever heard. Like what are you talking about. Just throwing stuff out there and hoping it might stick," one user stated.

Tim Walz admits he has "not been perfect"

During the presidential debate, when probed about where he actually was, Tim Walz conceded.

"I’ve not been perfect and I’m a knucklehead at times. All I said on this was, I got there that summer and misspoke on this, so I will just - that's what I've said."

However, during his radio interview with CNN in June 2019, the governor of Minnesota said,

"I was in Hong Kong on June 4, 1989, when, of course, Tiananmen Square happened."

He reiterated the same further back in the past, during a congressional hearing in 2009.

"Twenty years ago today, I was in Hong Kong preparing to go to Foshan to teach at Foshan No. 1 Middle School. To watch what happened at the end of the day on June 4 was something that many of us will never forget, we pledge to never forget, and bearing witness and accurate telling of history is absolutely crucial for any nation to move forward."

Furthermore, Governor Tim Walz is seemingly unclear on just how many times he has paid a visit to China, as in a 2016 interview, he claimed it was "about 30 times," BBC reported, but this week, the Harris-Walz campaign told US media it's "likely closer to 15."


In the past, his claims of having served in a war zone during his time as a member of the National Guard, have also been debunked, as he never made it to combat, making him no stranger to controversy.

In the past, he also divulged that he and his wife had resorted to IVF to conceive, which his wife later changed to "intrauterine insemination."

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Edited by Mudeet Arora