Additional Coverage:
- Walz admits misspeaking when he said he was in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square crackdown (nbcnews.com)
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz has admitted to making false claims about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Walz previously stated he was there when Chinese military forces attacked pro-democracy protesters, but news reports have contradicted this.
Walz apologized, saying he was "exuberant" in his speech and not trying to mislead people. However, his false statement has raised concerns among Republicans who view it as a vulnerability for the Democratic campaign.
Walz clarified that he was in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests, but not during the deadly crackdown. He emphasized his role as a teacher who took students to China to learn about different cultures.
Despite Walz’s admission, Republicans have continued to attack him over inaccuracies in his statements, including his previous claim of using weapons in combat and his comments about his children’s conception. Walz’s China experience has also been a target of Republican scrutiny.