Public statement or press release from Governor Walz or his office

Governor Tim Walz Admits to False Tiananmen Claims During CBS Interview

Oct 2, 2024, 01:42 AM

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has admitted to falsely claiming that he was in China during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. In recent reports, including a 2019 radio interview, Walz stated, "I was in Hong Kong on June 4, 1989, when, of course, Tiananmen Square happened." When confronted by CBS about the discrepancy, with the question, "You lied about being in China during Tiananmen Square. What do you say?" Walz responded by discussing his upbringing in rural Nebraska, saying, "I grew up in a middle-class family," and "I used to ride my bike with friends growing up," without directly addressing the question. He further remarked, "I get caught up in the rhetoric," and described himself as "a knucklehead at times," acknowledging that he "misspoke."