A CNN correspondent rigorously fact-checked Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., on Wednesday, stating unequivocally that “there is no evidence” he carried weapons in combat, contrary to implications he made as a vice presidential candidate.
Following Vice President Kamala Harris’s announcement of Walz as her running mate for the 2024 election, his political and military background has faced significant scrutiny. On Wednesday, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio and former President Trump’s running mate, accused Walz of misleading the public regarding his veteran status.
“He claimed, ‘We shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets.’ So I ask, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? What was that weapon you carried into combat?” Vance questioned. He subsequently stated that Walz “has not spent a single day in a combat zone” and accused him of stolen valor.
CNN correspondent Tom Foreman fact-checked statements regarding Walz’s military service later that day, reminding viewers, “Walz did make a comment, addressing a group — he’s referenced this a few times, using language that implies he carried weapons in a combat scenario.”
A CNN correspondent fact-checked Gov. Tim Walz, declaring “there is no evidence” he carried weapons in combat as he appeared to imply. (Screenshot/CNN)
KAMALA HARRIS’ TREATMENT OF STAFF UNDER SCRUTINY AS REPORTS OF POOR OFFICE CULTURE RESURFACE
Walz was featured in a video released by the Harris campaign on Wednesday, where he asserted at a campaign rally, “We can ensure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, remain where they belong.”
“There’s a distinction between being in a combat zone, participating in a war, and actually being in a place where people are firing at you,” he continued, emphasizing there “is no evidence that at any point Governor Walz was under fire, and some of his language could easily be misconstrued to suggest he was. Therefore, that statement about gun rights is entirely misleading.”
The correspondent also remarked that the campaign claimed Walz would never intentionally mislead anyone. Foreman pointed out that such claims are often made by campaigns.
Republican vice-presidential candidate Ohio Sen. JD Vance has strongly opposed his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. (Drew Hallowell/Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
WHO IS TIM WALZ? MEET THE HARRIS RUNNING MATE WHO CALLED REPUBLICANS ‘WEIRD’ PEOPLE
Foreman noted that many individuals may not grasp the subtleties of language, explaining that “‘carried in war’ for most implies ‘I carried into a situation where I was shooting at others and they were shooting back,’ while others might interpret it as, ‘It was wartime, I was on forward deployment.’
He then recounted his father’s service during the Korean War, pointing out photos of his father with his weapon and in uniform. “However, he was never under fire, nor did he fire at anyone, so he can say he served in war, but technically, he wasn’t in combat,” he added.
According to the Minnesota Guard, Walz was deployed with the Minnesota National Guard to Italy on August 3, 2003, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. His battalion was involved in security missions across various sites in Europe and Turkey, with Walz stationed in Vicenza, Italy, until his return to Minnesota in 2004. He did not serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign told CNN, “Throughout his 24 years of service, the Governor has carried, fired, and trained others to operate weapons of war countless times. Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country – in fact, he expresses gratitude to Senator Vance for his dedication to our country. That’s the American way.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has sought additional comments from the Harris-Walz campaign.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
