Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), the Republican vice presidential candidate, has launched a pointed critique against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) regarding his military service.
During a recent interview on CNN, Vance fact-checked host Dana Bash, asserting that Walz knew his unit would be deployed to Iraq when he decided to retire from the military.
Vance stated that Walz “lied” when he claimed he did not know about the deployment at the time of his retirement. Vance emphasized that a senior military officer had confirmed Walz was aware of the possible deployment as early as the fall of 2004.
Vance highlighted that Walz retired in May 2005, a few months after filing paperwork to run for Congress. According to Vance, this timing suggests Walz retired to pursue his political ambitions, leaving his unit to deploy without him.
“When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him,” Vance said, calling it “shameful” for Walz to prepare his unit for deployment only to leave before seeing it through.
Walz’s campaign has defended his military record, stating that after 24 years of service, he retired to run for Congress, where he later chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee.
The campaign also noted that Walz served in both the Nebraska and Minnesota Army National Guards, reaching the rank of command sergeant major.
However, critics, including Vance, have pointed out that Walz retired with the rank of master sergeant, not command sergeant major, as he has sometimes suggested.
This dispute over Walz’s military record has sparked a broader conversation about his credibility and the accuracy of his public statements.
Vance also criticized Walz for implying he had served in combat, referencing a 2018 statement by Walz where he spoke out against gun violence, saying, “We can make sure those weapons of war – that I carried in war – are only carried in war.”
Vance’s criticisms have been amplified by former President Donald Trump, who took to social media to express his support for Vance’s attacks, calling Walz a “DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY.”
The Harris-Walz campaign has responded by defending Walz’s years of service and commitment to veterans, while Vice President Kamala Harris praised Walz for his dedication to the country, saying, “I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country.”
As the vice presidential race heats up, this issue is likely to remain a contentious point of debate, especially among voters who value military service and integrity in their leaders.