Veterans shouted down Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., at the Minnesota State Capitol during a rally on Wednesday. The event was meant to honor veterans. But many in the crowd weren’t having it.
As Walz welcomed the crowd to the annual “Veterans Day on the Hill,” he was interrupted. Shouts of “Coward!” and “You sympathize with the Chinese!” echoed through the Capitol. Flags waved and “take action” signs filled the air.
“Coward! You sympathize with the Chinese!” several veterans yelled. Walz tried to respond calmly. “Sir, you're welcome to come… Let me finish!” he said. One veteran fired back, “Shut your f---ing mouth!”
Walz tried to keep it light. “Woah, hey — there’s some passion in the building, which is a good thing,” he said. Then he moved into his speech.
The moment spread quickly online. Video clips went viral. Conservative influencers cheered on the angry crowd.
Walz’s military service has faced heavy scrutiny. During the 2024 campaign, critics brought up inconsistencies. Accusations of stolen valor resurfaced.
He served in the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery. Before that, he was in the Nebraska National Guard. He retired as a master sergeant in 2005.
Critics slammed him for retiring months before his unit deployed to Iraq. The Guard confirmed he put in retirement papers five months before deployment orders came. That didn’t stop the backlash.
He also claimed at times to be a command sergeant major. But he didn’t finish the required coursework. So he reverted to his previous rank before retiring.
Ties to China added more fuel to the fire. Walz taught in Guangdong in 1989. He was part of a teaching-abroad program. He taught English and American history.
His campaign originally said he traveled to China dozens of times. That number was later reduced to around 15 visits. In a letter, he praised Minnesota for hosting top Chinese leaders.
More inconsistencies surfaced on the campaign trail. Walz said he “misspoke” about being in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square. He also wrongly said his family used IVF. “I’m a knucklehead,” he joked later.
Wednesday’s rally was organized by the Commanders’ Task Force and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers. It’s meant to connect veterans with lawmakers. Instead, it turned into a storm.
As things calmed down, Walz made a promise. He said he’d protect veteran budgets. That came as Minnesota faced budget talks and the VA braced for cuts.