Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing intense scrutiny and accusations of “stolen valor” following the resurfacing of a 2018 clip in which he falsely claimed to have carried weapons “in war.” The clip, shared by his gubernatorial campaign on social media, has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance.
In the resurfaced video, reported by the New York Post, Walz addresses a crowd on the topic of gun violence, stating, “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, who retired from the National Guard in 2005, is known to have never served in a combat zone, making his statement factually incorrect.
Critics swiftly pointed out the discrepancy. CNN’s Jake Foreman commented on the issue, saying, “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.” Foreman 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.”
J.D. Vance, during a campaign event in Michigan, seized upon Walz’s remarks to accuse him of using “stolen valor.” Vance stated, “He said we shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets. Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?” Vance’s condemnation continued with a direct rebuke: “What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that you’re not.”
