He was accused of lying.
Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and governor of Minnesota, defended his military service on Tuesday in response to accusations from his Republican opponent, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who has claimed Walz engaged in stolen valor.
Speaking at his first solo campaign event in Los Angeles, Walz expressed pride in his 24 years of service in the National Guard. He emphasized that his dedication to the military was motivated by a deep love for the country, shared by all service members.
Addressing his critics directly at the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Convention, Walz rejected the accusations, asserting that his service record should not be questioned. He reiterated his commitment to honoring those who have served, including his own opponents, and emphasized that he values and respects the sacrifices made by all who wear the uniform.
The controversy intensified after Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign released a video of Walz from 2018, where he referenced his military background while discussing gun control. In the clip, Walz mentions weapons he carried in combat, which led Vance to accuse him of misrepresenting his military experience. Vance criticized Walz for allegedly lying about his service, an accusation Walz and his campaign have denied. A spokesperson for Harris clarified that Walz had “misspoken” in the video.
Walz, who retired from the Minnesota National Guard in 2005 before running for Congress, had served both domestically and overseas, although he was not deployed to a combat zone. He joined the Army National Guard shortly after turning 17, inspired by his father’s service in the Korean War. This week, Walz is focusing on solo campaign events after previously campaigning alongside Harris in key battleground states.
