Tim Walz’s 'knucklehead' comment during VP debate sparks viral meme fest online

Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz made headlines during the October 1, 2024, vice presidential debate after referring to himself as a "knucklehead" in response to a question about his past statements regarding the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Walz, debating Republican candidate JD Vance, admitted he "misspoke" when previously claiming to have been in Hong Kong during the massacre, explaining, "I got there that summer and misspoke." His candid response sparked a viral reaction online, with social media users creating memes and mockingly calling him "Knucklehead Walz."

Walz's remark came during an already contentious debate where he was reportedly feeling pressure, according to a CNN report. His slip-up occurred after recent news reports from the Washington Free Beacon suggested he was in the U.S. at the time of the 1989 events, not in Hong Kong as he had previously stated. This led to a flurry of online reactions, with The Daily Wire commenting, "We’re all well aware, Tim."

In addition to his "knucklehead" comment, Walz sparked further amusement online with another gaffe during the debate when he said, "I’ve become friends with school shooters." Former journalist Andrew Tavani noted the remarks on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Walz giving the Trump campaign some ad material for the final sprint with the knucklehead remark."

The vice presidential debate, which is likely the only one of the 2024 election season, has generated significant discussion, with many viewers focusing on the humorous moments.