Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has finally responded to Ohio Senator JD Vance’s accusations of “stolen valour,” asserting that no one should demean another person’s military service. Speaking at an AFSCME public-sector union event in Los Angeles, Walz emphasized his respect for all who serve, including his political opponents.
“To anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: thank you for your service and sacrifice,” Walz stated, according to the New York Post.
The controversy stems from a resurfaced 2018 video where Walz, who served in the National Guard for 24 years, mentioned carrying “weapons of war” in the context of gun violence. Critics, including Vance, pointed out that Walz never served in a combat zone, accusing him of exaggerating his military experience. Vance, in a recent Michigan campaign, challenged Walz’s claims, questioning, “Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?”
After Walz’s response, Vance doubled down, tweeting, “Hi Tim, I thank you for your service. But you shouldn’t have lied about it. You shouldn’t have said you went to war when you didn’t. Nor should you have said that you didn’t know your unit was going to Iraq.”
Walz also took the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump, contrasting Trump’s background with Vice President Kamala Harris’s early job at McDonald’s, and questioning Trump’s ability to handle a fast-food role. The exchange underscores the heated political atmosphere as both sides gear up for upcoming elections.
