Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is also the Democratic vice presidential nominee, recently appeared alongside Kamala Harris in a CNN interview. When asked about his previous comments on carrying weapons “in war,” he humorously attributed his phrasing to his wife’s feedback on his grammar, stating, “…my wife the English teacher told me my grammar is not always correct.”
Walz’s remarks were prompted by a discussion on the implications of gun ownership following a school shooting. He asserted, “I said, we were talking about in this case—this was after a school shooting…” While he emphasized that he respects all military service, his comment drew criticism since he had never seen combat. The Harris campaign had labeled his statement as a “misstep.”
Social media erupted after Walz’s statement, with conservative figures like Clay Travis mocking his response, calling it “moronic.” Similarly, Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, laughed off the situation, suggesting that misrepresenting military service is more serious than a grammatical error.
Political commentator Mike Davis chimed in, criticizing Walz’s reliance on a “grammar defense” for accusations of “stolen valor.” He added that Walz’s history of misrepresenting his military rank had raised eyebrows.
Wow.
Tim Walz is raising the “grammar defense” to charges of stolen valor.
Did his “poor grammar” also lead him to lying—repeatedly and for years—about his military rank?
Fraud. https://t.co/l3x8BZwTdG— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) August 30, 2024
In response to the uproar, accounts like LibsofTikTok criticized Walz’s claim, stating he’s been fabricating aspects of his military service for years. Despite serving 24 years in the National Guard and achieving the rank of command sergeant major, Walz’s title was later downgraded to master sergeant for not completing required coursework.
This interview came at a time when Harris faced scrutiny for her media engagements since declaring her candidacy. Some, including Republican JD Vance, have criticized her approach as a “basement campaign.” Former Bush official Scott Jennings remarked that the joint interview with Walz displayed a lack of confidence in Harris’s political capabilities.
Despite the controversy, recent polls show Harris performing well against Donald Trump in key battleground states. A Fox News poll indicated she was slightly leading Trump in Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada, while trailing in North Carolina.