“Saturday Night Live” roasted Minnesota Democratic vice presidential nominee and Governor Tim Walz over his false claim that he was in Hong Kong during China’s Tiananmen Square massacre in the summer of 1989.
NBC’s sketch comedy show began the second episode of its 50th season with a cold open in which comedian Jim Gaffigan once again portrayed Walz. The starting act focused on last week’s vice presidential debate.
Tim Walz is getting destroyed on SNL because of his disastrous debate performance.
Here is the clip asking about Honk Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre. ☠️ pic.twitter.com/kcNXYRsqkp
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) October 6, 2024
“Governor Walz, you claimed you were in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre when you were home in Minnesota. Can you explain that?” asked Heidi Gardner, a “Saturday Night Live” cast member playing CBS debate moderator Norah O’Donnell.
“So, I think what happened is I went to EPCOT,” Gaffigan’s Walz said, alluding to Disney World. “You can go around the whole world, and I had a couple in the Germany section, and I thought I went to China. Anyway, I’m a knucklehead.”
The actual Walz called himself a “knucklehead” when asked about the “discrepancy” during the VP debate last week against his GOP rival Sen. JD Vance (R-OH). Walz also said he “misspoke” when pressed further.
Like in the “Saturday Night Live” season premier a week ago, cast member Bowen Yang played Vance while alumni Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg returned to portray Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, respectively. Former cast member Dana Carvey also made another appearance as President Joe Biden.
At one point, Rudolph’s Harris nervously drank a glass of wine while watching the VP debate. Samberg’s Emhoff assured her Walz would not say anything “crazy.” Then, after showing Gaffigan’s Walz saying, “I’ve become friends with school shooters,” Rudolph’s Harris crushed her glass in horror.
SNL burned Tim Walz on his disastrous VP debate performance.
Walz: I’ve become friends with school shooters. pic.twitter.com/XDygWo28fD
— Jake James (@JakeJames79) October 6, 2024
Walz actually made that comment during the real CBS debate while responding to a question about why flip-flopped on his prior support for an “assault weapons ban” over the course of his political career.
The VP candidate later sought to clarify his statement, telling NBC News, “I was talking about meeting people where there are school shooters, and I need to be more specific on that. But I am passionate about this. This one, for my wife and I, is just, as teachers, as parents, is so personal.”
