The 2024 vice presidential race has taken a heated turn as Republican candidate J.D. Vance, a military veteran himself, has publicly challenged the military service record of Democratic rival Tim Walz.
Vance’s challenge stems from comments made by Walz at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union convention. Walz, who recently became Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential candidate, defended his military record, stating, “I am damn proud of my service to this country.”
Vance, however, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond, accusing Walz of misrepresenting his service. “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,” Vance tweeted. He added that he would be “happy to discuss” the matter in a debate.
The controversy surrounding Walz’s military record has intensified, with critics, including Vance, claiming that Walz avoided combat in Iraq by resigning just before his unit was deployed. They also point to an instance in 2007 when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Walz’s service “on the battlefield,” despite his lack of combat experience.
This public challenge highlights the scrutiny surrounding Walz’s military record, with accusations of ‘stolen valor’ being thrown his way. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the 2024 election.
