CHICAGO – Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz should lean into his military service record in the face of increasing attacks from Republicans, some Democrats here say.
Republican criticism of Walz’s military service has picked up steam as he was set to take the stage Wednesday night to deliver his vice presidential acceptance speech. Republican nominee Donald Trump’s campaign issued a letter to Walz Wednesday morning signed by 50 congressional Republican veterans, arguing he had “demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations” about his military record.
Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, rising to the rank of command sergeant major. He deployed to Italy in August 2003 and was based in Vicenza, Italy, and his unit “supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey” before returning to Minnesota in April 2004, according to Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota National Guard.
