A high-stakes debate on Tuesday between Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz took an unexpected turn when Walz claimed that his 17-year-old son, Gus Walz, had witnessed a community centre shooting. The event, part of the campaign leading up to the November 5 presidential election, saw the two candidates discuss key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion rights.
Walz, who is Kamala Harris‘ running mate, emotionally recounted how his son was present during a shooting, prompting an empathetic response from Vance, Donald Trump‘s running mate, who condemned gun violence and expressed concern for Walz’s family.
However, the validity of Walz’s claim has been called into question. Independent journalist Kyle Becker took to X to dispute the Minnesota governor‘s statement. Citing reporter Paul Sperry, Becker claimed that police records show the shooting occurred outside the recreation centre and that Gus Walz never actually “witnessed” it. Becker’s post was blunt in its criticism: “Christ have mercy, indeed. Tim Walz is a LIAR”, he said.

Fox News writer and producer Kyle Becker has joined a growing chorus of sceptics, challenging the narrative presented by Walz during the televised debate.
The fallout from Tim Walz potentially exaggerating or misrepresenting his son’s involvement in the shooting could have significant implications for the political campaign, as voters assess the credibility of both candidates leading up to election day.