Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had a rough moment during Tuesday’s vice presidential debate when he was confronted about his long-standing, and now debunked, claim that he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. CBS News anchor and debate moderator Margaret Brennan pointed out that multiple news outlets have confirmed that Walz didn’t travel to Asia until much later that year.

Instead of addressing the discrepancy head-on, Walz meandered through a story about his reasons for traveling to China as a teacher before finally circling back to the issue at hand. His defense? “I’ve tried to do the best I can, but I’ve not been perfect and I’m a knucklehead at times.”

That’s right—he tried to shrug off a blatant falsehood with a self-deprecating “knucklehead” comment, as if calling himself a goof would wipe the slate clean. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t sit well with many viewers, and social media quickly lit up with mockery.

JD Vance provided an on-ramp for undecided suburban voters in swing states by giving them ‘permission’ to vote for Trump
pic.twitter.com/t33JChwvoO

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 2, 2024

When Brennan pushed him further, asking for a clearer explanation, Walz offered the weak reply that he had “misspoke,” a catch-all excuse for politicians caught in a bind. But let’s be real: “misspeaking” doesn’t cover years of repeating a false story. Walz didn’t just slip up once—this was a lie he’s stood by until he couldn’t anymore.

This wasn’t the only controversy trailing Walz in the debate. He’s also dealing with a “stolen valor” accusation in the 2024 campaign, raising even more questions about his credibility. The combination of these two major character issues put Walz in a precarious position, especially with JD Vance, his GOP opponent, performing strongly throughout the evening.

WATCH:

BAD gaffe from Tim Walz: “I’ve become friends with school shooters.” pic.twitter.com/5izmYWIEbk

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 2, 2024

The debate between Walz and Vance, who is Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, showed a clear contrast in preparedness and reliability. Vance was sharp, and while Walz leaned on charm and self-deprecating humor, it was hardly enough to cover up a lie of this magnitude.

In a political climate where voters are demanding more transparency and accountability, Walz’s “knucklehead” comment won’t likely be forgotten anytime soon.