### Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Misrepresents Presence in Hong Kong During Tiananmen Square Protests

For years, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has recounted a dramatic tale of being in Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests of 1989, which culminated in the Tiananmen Square massacre. However, it has now come to light that this claim is not true. While Governor Walz did spend a year teaching at a high school in China, he did not arrive in the country until August 1989, after the pivotal events had already transpired.

Walz’s assertion that he was in Hong Kong during the spring of 1989 and subsequently entered mainland China has been a consistent part of his narrative. He reiterated this story as recently as February on a podcast, saying he was there "on June 4 when Tiananmen happened" and had to decide whether to proceed with his teaching role despite warnings. He has also made similar comments in the past, including during a congressional hearing a decade ago where he claimed, “I was in Hong Kong in May 1989.”

However, contemporaneous reports from Nebraska, where Walz was residing at the time, confirm that he did not leave for China until August of that year. Walz's campaign corroborated these accounts this Tuesday, effectively debunking the long-held story of his presence during a critical moment in history.

The false narrative has been part of a broader recounting of Walz’s early career and experiences abroad, shared by his campaign staff and reported by major media outlets, including The New York Times. The revelation raises questions about the accuracy of personal anecdotes shared by public figures and the importance of fact-checking in political discourse.