Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has intensified his criticism of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's military record. The latest exchange occurred during a campaign event in Los Angeles where Walz defended himself against Vance's accusations.
Vance acknowledged Walz's service but accused him of dishonesty, stating, 'You shouldn't have lied about it. You shouldn't have said you went to war when you didn't. Nor should you have said that you didn't know your unit was going to Iraq. Happy to discuss more in a debate.'
Walz, in response, expressed pride in his service to the country and emphasized the importance of respecting each other's service records. This comes after Vance criticized Walz for a statement made in 2018 where Walz claimed to have handled assault weapons 'in war,' a claim that was later clarified as a misstatement by Walz's campaign.
Vance further accused Walz of avoiding service in Iraq, a claim that he defended by stating that his criticism was not about Walz's service but about alleged falsehoods for political gain.
The ongoing back-and-forth between the two vice presidential nominees highlights the intensity of the political campaign and the scrutiny placed on candidates' military backgrounds. As the election approaches, both Vance and Walz continue to defend their positions and engage in debates over their respective records.
