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Tim Walz falsely claimed that he carried weapons “in war” in a resurfaced clip that JD Vance blasted this week as another example of the Minnesota governor using “stolen valor.”
Kamala Harris’ running mate made the remarks in a resurfaced 2018 clip shared by his gubernatorial campaign on social media, in which he counsels a crowded room about gun violence.
“We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war,” Walz, 60, can be heard saying.
Critics were quick to point out that Walz, who retired from the National Guard in 2005, never actually served in a combat zone.
“Walz did make a comment speaking to a group, he’s done it a couple of times, where he has used language that has suggested that he carried weapons in a fighting situation,” CNN’s Jake Foreman said.
“I know from coming from a military family there is a difference between being in a combat area, being involved at a time of war, and actually being in a position where people are shooting at you,” he added.
“There is no evidence that at any time Governor Walz was in a position of being shot at, and some of his language could easily be seen to suggest he was, so that is absolutely false.”
Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance accused Walz during a campaign event Wednesday in Michigan of using “stolen valor.”
“He said we shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets,” Vance said. “Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?”
“What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that you’re not,” he added.
