Quick Hit:

Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared on The View Monday, defending false claims about his military service and travels. Pressed by co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, Walz insisted he speaks "honestly" and from the heart, though questions linger about his claims regarding the Tiananmen Square protests and his military record.

Key Details:

• Walz claimed he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, but reports have shown he didn’t travel to China until months later. Pressed on this by co-hosts, Walz admitted he "misspoke" but maintained, "I speak from my heart and in the moment."

• Walz also falsely stated that he carried weapons of war during his service. A Harris campaign spokesperson later attempted to clarify that while Walz handled weapons, the claim that he carried them in combat was inaccurate. 

• During his apperance Monday, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin pressed Walz, saying voters might have concerns about his trustworthiness. Walz acknowledged, "I think people do separate that...But it’s important we are careful with how we speak."

Diving Deeper:

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz appeared on The View Monday to address mounting criticism over his past false claims regarding both his military service and his travels. As reported by Fox News, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin challenged Walz on the accuracy of his statements, particularly about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, when evidence suggests he wasn’t in China until later that summer.

When asked to explain the discrepancy, Walz admitted he "misspoke" but emphasized, "I speak honestly. I speak from the heart." He further explained that sometimes he struggles to remember specific details, such as the exact dates of events decades ago, and that these slip-ups shouldn’t be conflated with more serious dishonesty.

Additionally, Walz was criticized for his claim that he carried weapons of war, a statement made during a 2018 interview that was later clarified by the Harris campaign. A spokesperson defended Walz, explaining that while he did handle such weapons, the governor’s words were not accurate when he implied active combat involvement.

Despite acknowledging some of his past inaccuracies, Walz maintained that voters can trust him. "I think voters understand when someone is speaking from the heart, even if we sometimes misspeak," he said. However, questions remain as to whether this will ease concerns about his credibility just weeks before Election Day.