Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced heckling from veterans at a rally at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul on Wednesday, where he was accused of stolen valor and criticized for his connections to China, Fox News reports.
During the annual “Veterans on the Hill” event, Walz was met with angry veterans who called him a “coward” and accused him of sympathizing with China, according to KSTP footage. Some veterans carried American flags and signs that read “take action.” Walz responded to the disruption by saying, “you are welcome to… Let me finish!”
Conservative commentators shared videos of the incident, which quickly gained traction on social media. Walz has faced scrutiny over alleged inconsistencies regarding his military service.
According to Fox News, “the former vice presidential candidate was accused of stolen valor for retiring just months before his battalion deployed to Iraq as war raged in the Middle East following the 9/11 attacks. Walz put in his papers for retirement at least five months before his battalion received deployment orders, according to the Minnesota National Guard. Walz was also discovered to have claimed several times that he retired as a command sergeant major, which is not accurate — he reverted to his previous rank upon retirement because he did not complete the necessary corresponding coursework, the National Guard has said.”
Walz’s connections to China also resurfaced after Vice President Kamala Harris made him as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Walz reportedly taught English and American history in Guangdong in 1989 and traveled to China about 15 times. Walz also “boasted about Minnesota hosting several top Chinese leaders in a letter unearthed by Fox News Digital.”
As the 2024 campaign continued, inconsistencies regarding Walz’s background were discussed nationally. He later admitted to “misspeaking” about visiting Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and making incorrect claims regarding his family’s use of in vitro fertilization, dismissing the errors by calling himself a “knucklehead.”
The rally, organized by the Commanders’ Task Force and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, aims to improve communication between Minnesota’s elected leaders and veterans. After the disruption, Walz promised to protect the budget for veterans amidst budget negotiations and potential layoffs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Walz did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.