Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced a firestorm of criticism at a veterans’ rally in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as military veterans heckled him over long-standing “stolen valor” accusations, calling him a “coward” and accusing him of sympathizing “with the Chinese.” The event, covered by KSTP-TV, saw veterans holding American flags and “Take Action” signs disrupt Walz’s speech, amplifying the controversy that has dogged him since his 2024 vice presidential run with Kamala Harris. A video of the chaotic scene, shared on X by @KSTP, has conservatives cheering the veterans’ raw anger.
One veteran’s shout of “coward” echoed through the rotunda, while another jabbed at Walz’s alleged ties to China, a reference to his 1989 teaching stint in the country, often cited by critics like JD Vance during the campaign, per a 2024 BBC report. The tension escalated when a Walz supporter yelled, “Shut your f**king mouth,” prompting Walz to quip, “Hey, there’s some passion in the building, which is a good thing,” in an attempt to defuse the situation. He pressed on, vowing to fully fund veterans’ programs: “I will not compromise in the space of veterans’ issues. We will fund them to where they need to be.” But his subsequent mockery of Trump voters—“Some of these guys voted for what’s happening at the VA, and they don’t like it”—only fueled the crowd’s ire.
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Walz’s military record has been a lightning rod since his VP candidacy. Critics, including Vance, have accused him of “stolen valor” for claiming he carried weapons “in war,” despite never serving in a combat zone during his 24 years in the Army National Guard, as detailed in a 2024 FactCheck.org report. Walz’s unit was deployed to Italy in 2003 to support the Afghanistan war, but he retired in 2005 to run for Congress, months before his battalion received orders for Iraq in July 2005, per a BBC report on October 1, 2024. The Harris campaign later admitted he “misspoke.” Fifteen Medal of Honor recipients who endorsed Trump in October 2024 condemned Walz, stating, “Fabricating military service is beneath the dignity of a veteran,” per their statement.
Conservatives on X, like @MAGAForce2024, celebrated the veterans’ outburst: “Walz wasn’t ready for this room—vets aren’t letting him off the hook for stolen valor!” @PatriotPulse added, “He can’t face the truth—JD Vance nailed it: don’t pretend to be something you’re not.” A 2025 KSTP report noted that some veterans, like Randy Bibeau, weren’t surprised by the heckling: “A little bit of the boos is normal.” For Trump supporters, Walz’s humiliation at the rally is poetic justice for a man they believe has disrespected true military service—and they’re relishing every moment of his downfall.
