The Vice President's campaign team has recently acknowledged a misrepresentation by her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, concerning his military service history.
This admission comes amidst escalating accusations of "stolen valor" directed at the Governor.
According to The New York Post, the campaign team for Vice President Harris issued a statement on Friday, addressing the controversy. "Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this country in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. Its the American way," the team stated. They further clarified that while advocating for stricter gun control, Governor Walz had "misspoke" about his military experience. "He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children," the statement read.
The Governor has been under scrutiny to clarify his military record after a 2018 video resurfaced. In the video, he cited his National Guard service as a rationale for increased gun control. "We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at," Walz stated in the video, which was shared on Harris' campaign account.
Despite serving 24 years in the National Guard, Walz never participated in combat. Notably, he retired from his unit shortly before they were deployed to Iraq, a move he justified as necessary for his Congressional run.
Further controversy has surrounded Walz for exaggerating his military rank. The Minnesota Governor, now in his second term, has consistently identified himself as a retired Command Sergeant Major. However, this claim is inaccurate as he was demoted to a Master Sergeant upon his retirement.
Senator JD Vance, former President Donald Trumps running mate, has seized upon this issue. "What bothers me about Tim Walz is this stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that youre not," Vance, a Marine veteran, stated. "Id be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did."
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