Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is focusing on what his advisors perceive as a vulnerability for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz: his exit from the Army National Guard nearly 20 years ago. Walz was introduced on Tuesday as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate and ended his 24-year military career in 2005 to pursue public office, just before the deployment of his unit to Iraq.
Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, who serves as Trump’s running mate and is a Marine veteran with combat experience in Iraq, criticized Walz at a news conference in Michigan. “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him,” Vance stated, emphasizing that many of Walz’s former colleagues have criticized him for this decision.
Vance characterized Walz’s actions as shameful, asserting that abandoning his unit at such a crucial moment reflects poorly on his character. Trump later amplified this strategy, referring to Walz as a “DISGRACE” on social media.
This tactic is reminiscent of the Republican attacks on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s military record during the 2004 election. Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser for Trump’s campaign and formerly involved with a group that sought to undermine Kerry’s candidacy, indicated a willingness to employ similar strategies against Walz.
The Harris campaign, on the other hand, has highlighted Walz’s military service and experience as a football coach to appeal to a broader audience. In a statement, campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt noted Walz’s advocacy for veterans and military families during his time in Congress, where he served as chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee after his retirement from military service.
Walz has previously faced scrutiny regarding his decision to leave the military, including during his re-election campaign in 2022. His campaign responded to similar attacks then with a letter from 50 veterans who praised his leadership and commitment to veterans’ issues.
Prominent conservative commentator Erick Erickson also drew attention to past criticisms of Walz’s military service, which were published shortly before his initial gubernatorial election in 2018. LaCivita echoed these sentiments on social media, questioning Walz’s commitment to his unit.
Walz, who joined the National Guard in 1981, achieved the rank of command sergeant major before his retirement. His military record includes service during disaster responses and deployments in Italy as part of broader military operations while others were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Both Walz and Vance are notable as the first veterans on a national ticket for either major party since John McCain in 2008. Vance has shared his own experiences from Iraq, clarifying his commitment to honesty regarding his military service.
In response to allegations regarding his military record, Walz’s camp stated that he has extensive training and experience with military weapons throughout his service. They emphasized that he would never diminish anyone’s military contributions. The campaign intends to continue addressing military service issues as part of their strategy against Walz.