Democratic governor heckled by veterans at State Capitol for stolen valor claims
Veterans Rally at Minnesota State Capitol Turns Fiery as Hecklers Accuse Gov. Tim Walz of Stolen Valor
The annual “Veterans Day on the Hill” rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul took a contentious turn on Wednesday as Democratic Governor Tim Walz was met with hecklers accusing him of stolen valor. As Walz attempted to welcome the veterans to the Capitol, he was met with shouts of “coward” and accusations of sympathizing with China.
Video footage captured by KSTP showed a fiery crowd of veterans holding American flags and “take action” signs shouting at Walz as he tried to address the crowd. “Coward! You sympathize with the Chinese!” some veterans yelled at the governor, while others told him to “shut [his] f—— mouth.”
Despite the heated exchange, Walz attempted to ease tensions, telling the crowd, “Sir, you’re welcome to come… Let me finish!” He acknowledged the passion in the room before beginning his address.
The accusations of stolen valor stem from inconsistencies in Walz’s description of his military service during the 2024 presidential election. Walz, a veteran who served in the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, retired as a master sergeant in 2005. However, he faced criticism for retiring just months before his battalion received deployment orders to Iraq following the 9/11 attacks.
Additionally, Walz was accused of falsely claiming to have retired as a command sergeant major. The Minnesota National Guard confirmed that he reverted to his previous rank upon retirement due to not completing the necessary coursework.
Walz’s ties to China also came under scrutiny when he was chosen as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. He had worked briefly in China as a teacher, participating in a teaching-abroad program in Guangdong in 1989. Despite initially claiming numerous trips to China, a campaign spokesperson later clarified that he had made approximately 15 visits.
On the campaign trail, Walz faced further inconsistencies regarding his background, including misstatements about visiting Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests and his family’s use of in vitro fertilization. He attributed these errors to misspeaking and self-identified as a “knucklehead.”
Despite the disruptions at the rally, Walz committed to upholding budget protections for veterans in light of Minnesota budget negotiations and potential cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The event, hosted by the Commanders’ Task Force and Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, aims to facilitate communication between elected officials and veterans in the state.
As the controversy surrounding Walz continues to unfold, the governor has not responded to requests for comment. The incident at the rally underscores the deep divisions and tensions surrounding his military record and ties to China.
