A viral video has surfaced showing Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz falsely claiming that he served in a war, despite never having seen combat during his military career. The video, which has reignited accusations of "stolen valor," shows Walz stating, "We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war".
Walz, who served 24 years in the Army National Guard, retired in 2005. Although he was part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), his service was conducted in Italy, not in combat zones like Afghanistan or Iraq. The Minnesota National Guard confirmed that while Walz's unit was involved in OEF, his role was limited to training units in artillery.
Here’s Walz committing ACTUAL stolen valor and saying he went to war. Would be a shame if it went viral 💅 pic.twitter.com/wFN72y6Nas
— 🇺🇸 ~ 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 ~🎙️ (@RogueLou18) August 7, 2024
This isn't the first time Walz's military record has been called into question. During his 2006 congressional campaign, he described himself as a "veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom," a term typically associated with service in Afghanistan. This claim has led to misunderstandings among his constituents, some of whom believed he served in combat.
The controversy intensified following Walz's selection as Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Critics, including GOP vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, accused Walz of abandoning his unit before their deployment to Iraq. Vance stated, "You abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq," during a campaign event.
🚨 Tim Walz On MSNBC Says That There Is No First Amendment Protection For Misinformation Or Hate Speach
Your Thoughts: Do our First Amendment rights cover speech the government doesn't like?
A clip has resurfaced from an interview on MSNBC.
Walz: "There’s no guarantee to… pic.twitter.com/VOSYFnOws5
— Cash Loren (@CashLorenShow) August 7, 2024
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends, who served with Walz, emphasized that Walz's comments could easily be interpreted as implying combat experience. "To most people, that would mean that he was actually in combat, carrying a weapon in a combat zone," Behrends said on Fox News.
Walz has previously admitted that he never saw combat, stating in a 2018 interview that he "got far more out of the military" than the military got out of him. Despite this, his campaign's portrayal of his military service has continued to cause confusion and controversy.
The Harris campaign defended Walz, noting his deployment to Italy in support of OEF. However, critics argue that serving in Italy is not equivalent to being in a combat zone, a distinction they believe is critical.
As the 2024 election heats up, Walz's military service remains a focal point of debate, highlighting the broader issue of how military credentials are represented in political campaigns.
Walz is no war hero,he never even heard any gunfire other than target practice,he’s a liar!
He’s more than just a liar. You are being too nice here. Look what he stands for. Open borders, giving illegals full citizenship, taking away our 2A rights, cutting off male sex organs and everything else that is Non American. In other words he is a total Slime Ball.