Tim Walz ‘misspoke’ about using weapons ‘in war,’ Harris campaign says: report

Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Tim Walz, recently found himself in hot water over a 2018 video where he talked about handling weapons “in war.” After facing backlash, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign clarified on Friday that Walz “misspoke” in the video.

The spokesperson emphasized that Walz deeply respects all who serve and would never diminish anyone’s service. The statement aimed to clear up any confusion, explaining that while Walz did handle military weapons during his 24 years in the National Guard, he didn’t see combat. Instead, he was making the case for stricter gun control, believing that such weapons should only be in the hands of trained military personnel.

The controversy started when the Harris campaign shared a clip of Walz discussing his military background, where he stated, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” This prompted criticism from Republicans, particularly vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, who questioned Walz’s military service, noting that Walz never deployed to a war zone.

Walz did serve in the National Guard for over two decades and was stationed in Italy in 2003 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, which supported the war in Afghanistan. However, he retired from the military in 2005, just months before his unit was deployed to Iraq.

Vance didn’t hold back, calling out Walz for what he referred to as “stolen valor,” accusing him of pretending to be something he’s not. The Trump campaign also chimed in, with communications director Steven Cheung criticizing Walz for needing a spokesperson to address the issue rather than speaking out himself.

As the campaign continues, it’s clear that Walz’s military service will remain a point of discussion, with both sides keen to shape the narrative.