Ladies and gentlemen, let’s dive into a heated exchange that took place on CNN’s “State of the Union” over the weekend.
Ohio Senator JD Vance didn’t hold back when he squared off with host Dana Bash, and it was all about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and some controversial claims regarding his military service.
So, here’s what went down. During the interview, the conversation turned to Governor Walz’s service in the National Guard. Now, Walz has been accused of “stolen valor,” a term used when someone falsely claims military service or exaggerates their service record. Specifically, the controversy revolves around whether Walz knew his unit was deploying to Iraq when he submitted his paperwork to retire. Walz has claimed that he wasn’t aware, but Vance came prepared with a different story.
Vance pointed out that just a few days earlier, Walz’s own commanding officer told CNN that Walz absolutely knew about the deployment when he decided to retire. That’s right, according to Vance, Walz was fully aware that his unit was heading to Iraq, yet he chose to quit. This, Vance argues, is a clear case of dishonesty—something he doesn’t take lightly, especially when it comes to someone who might be on the Democratic ticket as Kamala Harris’ running mate.
“He knew he was going to Iraq. He decided to quit,” Vance stated. “He lied about that. He said that when he decided to retire, he did not know that he was going to Iraq. That is another untruth, as even his senior military officer said. So, again, I’m not criticizing the service. I’m criticizing the dishonesty, dishonesty spoken in favor and for the purpose of political benefit.”
Now, Dana Bash tried to step in, defending Walz by mentioning that many veterans have come out in support of him and suggesting that it might be inappropriate to criticize him in this way. But Vance wasn’t having it. He dismissed the defense, stating that he wasn’t interested in ad hominem attacks and emphasizing that the core issue is about truthfulness. Vance made it clear: Walz said he served in war, but he didn’t—plain and simple.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting. Vance didn’t just stop at criticizing Walz. He took this as an opportunity to question Kamala Harris’ judgment. Why, he asked, would Harris choose someone who has allegedly lied about their military service as a potential vice president? He didn’t mince words, suggesting that this decision is indicative of Harris’ overall judgment, which, according to him, is lacking—whether it’s about the border, inflation, or this particular issue.
“And I think that the most important thing here, Dana, is, it goes to Kamala Harris’ judgment,” he continued. “Tim Walz is ultimately going to be the vice president — Kamala Harris is in great health, I’m sure she’s going to be president — if she wins for four or maybe even eight years. Why did Kamala Harris choose a person who has lied about their military service? I think that is a serious lapse in judgment.”
WATCH: CNN’s Dana Bash, frustrated after getting her Stolen Valor questions and whataboutist followups wrapped around her head by @JDVance, desperately moves to abortion. pic.twitter.com/flFwFnHtqv
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 11, 2024
So, there you have it, folks! JD Vance took the gloves off in this interview, and it’s clear that the controversy surrounding Tim Walz’s military service is far from over. Whether this will have any impact on the political landscape remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—this debate isn’t cooling down anytime soon!
