Walz says he "misspoke" about being in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square protests

What he's saying: When asked to explain the discrepancy in Tuesday's debate, Walz first said he's a "knucklehead at times."

• "I will talk a lot. I will get caught up in the rhetoric," he said.

Catch up fast: Walz traveled to China as a young teacher in 1989 and later led groups of students from Minnesota on trips to the region.

• He has publicly stated on multiple occasions that he was in Hong Kong ahead of and during the deadly pro-democracy uprising in Beijing, per CNN.
• The claims were widely reported in profiles and news stories after Vice President Kamala Harris named him as her running mate in August.

Yes, but: Newspaper reports from the time indicate Walz was still in Nebraska in May of 1989 and wouldn't leave the country until August, the Minnesota-based APM Reports reported this week.

Plus: Walz had previously said he had visited China about 30 times.

• His campaign now says it was closer to 15.

The bottom line: When pressed on Tuesday about the 1989 visit, he acknowledged that he "misspoke" and that he "got there that summer."