The presidential bid of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing scrutiny after Walz mistakenly stated he carried a gun “in war” during his military service. The Harris-Walz campaign clarified that Walz, who served 24 years in the Army National Guard, “misspoke” while advocating for stricter assault weapon laws.
In a recently shared 2018 video, Walz argued that military-grade weapons should be restricted to combat zones, referencing his experience. This effort has drawn criticism from Republican Senator JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran who accused Walz of “stolen valor” for his claims and for allegedly abandoning his battalion by retiring ahead of deployment to Iraq.
Campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa responded to these allegations in a statement to The Washington Post, emphasizing that Walz respects all military service members, including Vance, and reaffirmed his position that only trained military personnel should have access to weapons of war. He contrasted this with what he characterized as the priorities of Donald Trump and JD Vance, suggesting they cater more to the gun lobby than to the safety of children.
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Though Walz did not see combat, he was stationed in Italy for nine months in support of U.S. forces during Operation Enduring Freedom. Meanwhile, Vance completed a six-month deployment in Iraq, though he also did not face combat.
Further criticisms of Walz’s military service include claims that he misrepresented his rank upon retirement as a command sergeant major. Although Walz achieved the rank, it was later downgraded due to uncompleted coursework required to maintain the command title. Retired Command Sergeant Major Doug Julin has charged that Walz acted unethically to secure his retirement prior to a mobilization order for Iraq.
However, supporters, like retired veteran Eustice, defended Walz, dismissing accusations of shirking duty as unfounded. He noted the uncertainty surrounding potential deployments at that time and urged that Walz’s long service should not be overshadowed by these claims.
Retired Staff Sergeant Ryan Marti, who served alongside Walz, spoke highly of him in a CNN interview, describing him as “one of the most honorable men” he’s known, expressing no resentment towards his retirement.