Walz Under Fire in Vice Presidential Debate
During Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz found himself facing tough questions right before the event kicked off. On August 16, 2024, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) initiated a congressional investigation into Walz’s alleged connections with Chinese government officials. This investigation focuses on Walz’s 30 trips to China and his management of Travel Adventures Inc., a for-profit company that organized trips to China for American kids from 1991 to 2003.
Questions About Ties to China
Things got even murkier when it was revealed that Walz served as a fellow at Macau Polytechnic University while he was in the U.S. House of Representatives. This university has a reputation for being loyal to the Chinese government, raising serious concerns about how deep Walz’s ties go with them.
Debate Performance and Claims
During the debate, Walz was grilled about these trips and a previous claim he made regarding being in China during the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Earlier that day, CNN reported that Walz had stated he was in Hong Kong on June 4, 1989, when the Chinese government violently shut down pro-democracy protests. When pressed for clarification, Walz struggled to give a clear answer.
“All I said on this was I got there that summer and misspoke on this. So I will just, that’s what I’ve said,” Walz stumbled, trying to put together a coherent explanation. He added, “So I was in Hong Kong and China during the democracy protest went in,” after a long pause.
Walz’s Pre-Debate Jitters
This slip-up came just as reports emerged that Walz was feeling intense pre-debate anxiety. According to CNN, he confided in senior aides about his fear of disappointing Kamala Harris with a poor performance. His nerves were reportedly heightened by the challenge of debating Senator J.D. Vance, who is known for his strong debate skills that helped him secure victory in Ohio back in 2022.
The Pressure of Facing Vance
Walz’s nervousness stands in stark contrast to Vance’s confident track record in debates. In his 2022 campaign, Vance adeptly handled criticisms regarding his past anti-Trump remarks and ultimately won Trump’s endorsement. His memorable debate performances, particularly against Democrat Tim Ryan, have cemented him as a formidable contender, putting even more pressure on Walz as Election Day approaches.
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