Harris campaign says Walz ‘misspoke’ in video where he claimed to have carried weapons ‘in war’

The Harris-Walz campaign on Saturday backtracked on a reference in a video of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as questions still swirl about military service record. 

The reference in question stemmed from a 2018 video recently circulated by the Harris-Walz campaign on social media where he spoke against gun violence and advocated for gun control.

“We can do CDC research. We can make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states,” Mr. Walz said. “And we can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at.”

Mr. Walz served 24 years in the U.S. National Guard, but was never deployed to an active combat zone. 

Now, as more questions and criticism mount surrounding his military record and career, the Harris-Walz campaign sought to clarify what he meant in the video. 

“Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way,” said Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt in a statement. 

“In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the Governor misspoke,” she continued. “He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.”

Mr. Walz has come under intense scrutiny since being tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for comments like the one in the 2018 video that implied he engaged in battle. He also received heat for his retirement from military service in 2005, when he ended his military career before his unit was slated to be deployed to Iraq and instead ran for Congress. 

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance, who served in the Marine Corps, bashed Mr. Walz for leaving his unit behind.

“I think it’s shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you’re going to follow through, and then to drop out right before you actually have to go,” Mr. Vance said.

Allegations of stolen valor from men who he served with have dogged Mr. Walz for much of his political career. They accused him of embellishing his military service to benefit his political career. 

The Harris-Walz campaign’s website removed the reference to Mr. Walz as a “retired command sergeant major,” instead denoting that he once served at the command sergeant major rank.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.