Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently addressed discrepancies in his statements regarding his travel to China during the pro-democracy protests in 1989. Walz admitted to misspeaking about visiting Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests but maintained that he was in Hong Kong and China during that time.
Walz explained that his history of travel to China began in 1989 and continued throughout his teaching career, where he chaperoned education trips. He acknowledged that he had been 'caught up in the rhetoric' when discussing the issue and referred to himself as a 'knucklehead at times.'
When questioned about the inconsistency between his previous comments and media reports, Walz initially admitted to misspeaking but later reiterated that he was present in Hong Kong and China during the pro-democracy protests. The Tiananmen Square protests took place in Beijing from April to June 1989 and ended in a violent crackdown by the Chinese government.
Walz emphasized that his experiences during the protests had informed his understanding of governance and the importance of democracy. Despite acknowledging his imperfections, Walz highlighted his commitment to serving the people who elected him to Congress for 12 years.
Overall, Governor Walz's clarification sheds light on his past travel experiences in China and underscores the significance of his observations during a pivotal moment in history.
