United States: In a resurfaced video that drew sharp rebuke from JD Vance, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was caught making spurious claims about his military service, asserting that he had wielded “weapons of war” during his time in the National Guard. The clip, originating from 2018 and recently circulated by Walz’s gubernatorial campaign on social media, shows the governor addressing a crowded room on the subject of gun violence.
“We possess the capability to investigate the repercussions of gun violence. We must ensure that those instruments of war, which I bore in conflict, remain confined to the battlefield,” Walz, now 60, is heard proclaiming, according to New York Post.
However, critics swiftly pointed out the inaccuracies in Walz’s narrative, noting that despite his service in the National Guard, he never saw combat.
“Walz has, on more than one occasion, made remarks before an audience that suggest he engaged in warfare with weapons in hand,” remarked CNN’s Jake Foreman. “As someone who hails from a military lineage, I understand the distinction between serving during wartime and actively engaging in combat where lives are at risk,” Foreman elaborated.
“There is no substantiated evidence to suggest that Governor Walz was ever in a situation where he faced enemy fire. His choice of words could easily mislead one to believe otherwise, making his statement unequivocally false, as per New York Post.
During a campaign stop in Michigan on Wednesday, Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance lambasted Walz, accusing him of “stolen valor.”
Reportedly, “He claimed that the firearms he wielded in war shouldn’t find their way onto America’s streets,” Vance declared. “But one must ask—Tim Walz, when exactly did you ever experience the horrors of war?”
“What irks me the most about Tim Walz is this façade of stolen valor. One must never masquerade as something they are not,” Vance concluded.
