The location of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in 1989 could become a significant topic in Tuesday’s vice presidential debate in New York. This is due to recent claims that suggest the governor may have misrepresented his whereabouts during that time.

Walz has previously mentioned that he traveled to China in 1989 for a teaching job just weeks prior to the protests in Beijing. He recounted these experiences during a hearing in 2014 for the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which marked the 25th anniversary of the events.

“As a young man, I was just going to teach high school in Foshan in Guangdong, and was in Hong Kong in May of ’89,” said the Democratic vice presidential nominee. “As the events escalated, many of us decided to go in. I still vividly recall the train station in Hong Kong.”

“Being in a Chinese high school at such a pivotal moment felt incredibly significant. It was an intriguing summer to say the least. With the unfolding events and ensuing media blackouts, it’s undeniable that people can’t be cut off from news if they seek it out.”

Inconsistencies in Walz’s account emerged following a report by the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative outlet, which suggested he was actually in Nebraska around that time.

This prompted YSL News to reach out to the Harris-Walz campaign on Tuesday, but no response has been received yet.

Evidence suggests Walz was in Nebraska in 1989

The Alliance (Neb.) Times-Herald published a photo of Walz visiting a Nebraska National Guard facility on May 16, 1989. The caption stated that Walz “will take over the job” of staff member from a retiring guardsman and “will be moving to Alliance,” Nebraska, as reported by CNN.

Additionally, another article from a Nebraska newspaper in April 1989 indicated that Walz intended to visit China in early August, shortly after the protests concluded. Minnesota Public Radio News and APM Reports were the first to highlight this discrepancy.

Furthermore, Walz has been vague about the frequency of his visits to China. In a 2016 interview, he claimed to have traveled there “about 30 times.” He also told the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in 2016 that he had been to Hong Kong “dozens and dozens and dozens of times.”

China holds a significant place for Walz and his wife, Gwen Walz, who got married on June 4, 1994—marking the fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, according to CNN. They celebrated their honeymoon by hosting students on an educational trip to China, a practice Walz often pursued as a teacher, the outlet noted.

Gwen Walz stated to the Star-Herald in January 1994 that they chose their wedding date to ensure her husband would “always remember the date.”

Republicans criticize Walz over China connections

Republicans have pointed out Walz’s ties with China, even though he hasn’t openly discussed his travels since joining Harris’s campaign.

“Tiananmen Tim! Seems funny that this is changing now – we were going to call him out on this at the debate tomorrow night! Is there anything else you want to admit, Tim???” Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Donald Trump’s campaign, commented on X in response to a Minnesota Public Radio News piece about Walz’s travels to China.

House Republicans have also raised questions about Walz’s connection to China, with House Oversight Chairman James Comer recently subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for documents related to the governor’s possible links to the Chinese Communist Party.

In response to inquiries regarding Walz’s time in China, Harris’s campaign issued a statement to Minnesota Public Radio News affirming, “Throughout his career, Governor Walz has opposed the (Chinese Communist Party), advocated for human rights and democracy, and always prioritized American jobs and manufacturing.”

“Republicans are distorting facts and keenly lying to divert attention from the Trump-Vance agenda: lauding dictators, and shifting American jobs to China,” the statement added.