On Wednesday CNN fact-checked Tim Walz’s military record revealing discrepancies following his recent introduction as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. The examination comes after Walz ended his 24-year military career in 2005, right before his unit was deployed to Iraq—a point of contention given some of his recent political statements.
Walz, a former National Guard sergeant major, has come under pressure for statements made during public appearances where he implied direct combat experience. CNN’s investigation highlighted instances where Walz’s rhetoric suggested he “carried weapons in a fighting situation.”
“There is a significant difference between being stationed in a combat area during wartime and being under direct enemy fire,” noted CNN. The network’s fact-check pointed out that no evidence supports Walz’s implications of facing direct combat, labeling these assertions as “absolutely false.”
WATCH:
During a press conference in Michigan today, Trumps’ vice presidential pick JD Vance criticized Walz for his decision to leave the Army before his unit deployed to Iraq.
“When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him — a fact that he’s been criticized