Senator JD Vance from Ohio, the Republican vice presidential nominee, took aim at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, over the governor’s military service record. During a recent campaign event in Michigan, Vance responded sharply to Walz’s critique of his background, which Walz had described as indicative of an elitist perspective due to Vance’s Silicon Valley ties and Ivy League education.
Vance defended his journey from modest beginnings, emphasizing that he rose from a family where no one had attended law school. “I come from a background where my family had never been to law school. I grew up in challenging circumstances and worked hard to get through college and law school. Achieving success through perseverance is what the American Dream is all about,” Vance asserted. He found it odd that Walz would criticize his accomplishments rather than appreciate the merit of such hard work.
Turning to Walz’s military service, Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, criticized Walz for what he perceives as a lack of sincerity in his service record. “When I was called to serve in Iraq, I did so with honor and am proud of my service. It’s disappointing to see someone like Walz, who was also in the military, but chose to leave his unit when called to serve, undermining the value of that service,” Vance said.
Walz, who served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, had some overseas deployment but did not see combat. After leaving the Guard, he transitioned to a congressional career. Vance also questioned the authenticity of Walz’s claims about his wartime experiences, suggesting that Walz might be exaggerating or misrepresenting his service.
Vance’s critique extended to a video shared by Harris’s campaign in which Walz claimed to have carried weapons during his service. Vance challenged this portrayal, suggesting that Walz’s statements might be misleading.
“I am proud of my achievements and the hard work that went into them,” Vance concluded. “But I am troubled by what seems like an attempt to falsely inflate one’s military credentials. If Walz wants to critique my education, fine. But pretending to be something you’re not, especially with military service, is something I cannot respect.”
Governor Walz, officially named as Harris’s running mate on Tuesday, began his campaign alongside the Vice President in Philadelphia, with their campaign promising continued support for veterans and military families.