{"id":2324037,"date":"2024-08-13T18:31:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T22:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walz-defends-military-record-amid-controversy-in-first-solo-speech-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-13T18:36:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T22:36:25","slug":"walz-defends-military-record-amid-controversy-in-first-solo-speech-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walz-defends-military-record-amid-controversy-in-first-solo-speech-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Walz defends military record amid controversy in first solo speech &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwalz-defends-military-record-amid-controversy-in-first-solo-speech-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2324037&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In his first solo speech as Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz addressed controversies surrounding his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sickening-to-watch-deadly-piers-morgan-blisters-mma-match-featuring-openly-transgender-fighter\/\" title=\"\u2018Sickening To Watch,\u2019 \u2018Deadly\u2019: Piers Morgan Blisters MMA Match Featuring Openly Transgender Fighter\">military record<\/a>. Walz\u2064 emphasized his pride in his family&#8217;s military service while \u2064responding\u2064 to attacks from Donald Trump and his \u200dallies regarding inconsistencies in his 24-year\u2062 National Guard service, particularly his\u200c retirement just months before his unit&#8217;s deployment to Afghanistan. Despite criticism and past statements suggesting\u2064 he had combat experience, Walz maintained his pride in his service, stating that \u2064he joined the National Guard at 17 and later served in \u200bCongress as an advocate for veterans. \u200cHis campaign has been successful in fundraising, netting over $36 million in just 24 hours\u2063 after his\u2064 nomination. Although Walz intends to position himself as a strong contender against his opponent, J.D. \u2062Vance, reactions from the veteran community on the accusations of misrepresenting his service have \u2063been mixed and often divided along partisan lines.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Walz defends military record amid controversy in first solo speech<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) delivered his first solo speech as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2024<\/a> vice presidential nominee Tuesday and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/8-hollywood-celebrities-who-actually-back-the-blue\/\" title=\"8 Hollywood Celebrities Who Actually Back The Blue\">directly addressed<\/a> the recent controversy regarding his military record.<\/p>\n<p>Walz, who was tapped to serve as Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\">Kamala Harris<\/a>&lsquo;s running mate just one week ago, delivered remarks at the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, where he told the crowd he was &ldquo;damn proud&rdquo; of his family&rsquo;s history of military service.<\/p>\n<p>Walz has proven to be a fundraising&nbsp;boon to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/harris-tax.webp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Harris<\/a> ticket. The campaign announced it raised more than $36 million in the initial 24 hours after Harris announced Walz as her selection on top of more than $300 million raised in July.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Donald Trump<\/a>, his running mate Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>J.D. Vance<\/a> (R-OH), and their allies have spent the past week digging into and attacking Walz over apparent inconsistencies regarding his service, specifically his decision to retire from a 24-year-long National Guard career just months before his unit was deployed to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>Reports also resurfaced multiple videos of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/watch\/1729148\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Walz<\/a>&nbsp;stating he carried&nbsp;&ldquo;weapons of war&rdquo; in war<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>after winning his first congressional election. Walz was never deployed to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/idf-says-warning-to-leave-gaza-is-expression-of-our-humanity-in-contrast-to-hamas\/\" title=\"IDF&#039;s Gaza evacuation warning showcases our humanity, unlike Hamas.\">active combat zone<\/a> while deployed overseas, and the governor does not appear to have ever corrected statements incorrectly defining his military record.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With my dad&rsquo;s encouragement, a guy who served in the Army during the Korean War, I signed up for the Army National Guard two days after my 17th birthday,&rdquo; Walz, who also spent his years in the military teaching back home in Minnesota, told the&nbsp;AFSCME crowd Tuesday afternoon. &ldquo;Then, in 2005, I felt the call of duty again, this time giving service to my country in the halls of Congress.&nbsp;My students inspired me to run for that office, and I was proud to make it to Washington.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a champion of our men and women in uniform. I&rsquo;m going to say it again as clearly as I can, I am damn proud of my service to this country,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;I firmly believe you should never degenerate another person&rsquo;s service record. To anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: Thank you for your service and sacrifice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Walz&rsquo;s apparent olive branch to Vance belies a relationship that will only grow more heated over the final months of the election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Democratic operatives specifically told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>&nbsp;that, in addition to his progressive policy bona fides, Walz was selected as Harris&rsquo;s running mate to help her with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-ways-the-democrats-stick-up-for-the-wealthy-at-the-expense-of-the-middle-class\/\" title=\"Three Ways The Democrats Stick Up For The Wealthy \u2014 At The Expense Of The Middle Class\">middle-aged white men<\/a> in the Midwest and to attack <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3119566\/how-trump-campaign-hack-differs-clinton-2016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Vance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During his introductory speech last week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Minnesota governor said he &ldquo;can&rsquo;t wait&rdquo; to debate Vance before jokingly alluding to unfounded internet rumors about the junior senator from Ohio performing sex acts on furniture in his youth.<\/p>\n<p>Reporting on Walz&rsquo;s military service and accompanying accusations of stolen valor have received mixed reviews from the veteran community and appear to predictably split along party lines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A number of members of his old unit, including his commanding officer, have accused the governor of cowardice and disavowed his actions, but a group of more than 1,000 veterans and military families signed an open letter Tuesday claiming to be &ldquo;appalled at Donald Trump and JD Vance&rsquo;s politically motivated attacks&rdquo; against Walz.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;JD Vance&rsquo;s recent comments&nbsp;attacking Governor Walz&rsquo;s service record are disrespectful and deeply disappointing, especially given Vance&rsquo;s own service &mdash; which we are also profoundly grateful for,&rdquo; the letter, first obtained by <em>USA Today<\/em>, reads. &ldquo;But given Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/historic-significance-of-georgia-senate-contests\/\" title=\"Historic Significance of Georgia Senate Contests\">long record<\/a> of expressing disdain for service members, veterans, and their families, it&rsquo;s unsurprising that his running mate has stooped to such lows.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Following Tuesday&rsquo;s remarks, Walz will begin a fundraising tour of his own that will see him hit the following five states over the next three days: California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can watch Walz&rsquo;s Tuesday remarks in full below.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Governor Tim Walz Addresses AFSCME Members | AFSCME 46th International Convention\" width=\"696\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fPsRlmGR-5M?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Walz defends military service amid controversy in inaugural solo address<\/p>\n<p>Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) gave his first solo speech as the 2024 vice presidential nominee on Tuesday, addressing the ongoing controversy surrounding his military record. Just a week after being chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s running mate, Walz spoke at an event for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), expressing pride in his family&#8217;s military history. His candidacy has significantly boosted fundraising efforts for Harris&#8217;s campaign, which reported raising over $36 million within 24 hours of announcing Walz as her pick, adding to more than $300 million raised in July.<\/p>\n<p>However, former President Donald Trump and his running mate Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), along with their supporters, have been scrutinizing Walz\u2019s service record. They have highlighted perceived inconsistencies related to his decision to retire from a 24-year National Guard career shortly before his unit was deployed to Afghanistan. Additionally, past videos resurfaced where Walz claimed he carried &#8220;weapons of war&#8221; during combat after winning his first congressional election; however, he was never deployed to an active combat zone while serving overseas and has not clarified any misleading statements about his military experience.<\/p>\n<p>In addressing the AFSCME audience on Tuesday afternoon, Walz shared that he enlisted in the Army National Guard just two days after turning 17 with encouragement from his father who served during the Korean War. He recounted feeling called to serve again when he entered Congress in 2005 due to inspiration from his students back home in Minnesota. &#8220;I was proud to make it to Washington,&#8221; he stated.<\/p>\n<p>Walz emphasized that he served on the Veterans Affairs Committee and advocated for service members: &#8220;I am damn proud of my service to this country,&#8221; he asserted. He also expressed respect for anyone who wears a uniform and thanked them for their sacrifices.<\/p>\n<p>His conciliatory remarks towards Vance contrast with what is expected to be an increasingly contentious relationship as the election approaches. Democratic strategists indicated that part of selecting Walz was aimed at appealing to middle-aged white men in Midwest states while also countering Vance&#8217;s influence.<\/p>\n<p>During last week&#8217;s introductory speech in Philadelphia, Walz expressed eagerness for a debate with Vance while humorously referencing unfounded rumors about Vance\u2019s past behavior.<\/p>\n<p>Reactions within the veteran community regarding allegations against Walz have been mixed along party lines; some members from his former unit criticized him while over 1,000 veterans and military families signed an open letter condemning Trump&#8217;s and Vance&#8217;s politically motivated attacks against him.<\/p>\n<p>The letter stated disappointment over Vance\u2019s comments about Governor Walz\u2019s service record but acknowledged gratitude for Vance\u2019s own military contributions: \u201cIt is unsurprising that [Trump] has encouraged such low tactics,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n<p>Following Tuesday&#8217;s address, Walz will embark on a fundraising tour across five states\u2014California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York\u2014and Rhode Island over three days<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2645,"featured_media":2324038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walz-defends-record.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[6733,33583,27318],"class_list":["post-2324037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-controversy","tag-military-record","tag-walz"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/walz-defends-record.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}