On Tuesday, a group of veterans currently serving in the U.S. Congress voiced serious concerns about Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, accusing him of making false claims about his military service. The group, comprising 50 sitting House and Senate lawmakers, expressed doubts that Walz could earn the trust of voters if he isn’t transparent about his own military record.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Walz, the congressional veterans emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity in holding the office of Vice President. “The Office of the Vice President is a position that requires the trust of the American people and a solemn commitment to duty on behalf of the United States of America,” the letter began. “As veterans who have served our nation, we feel compelled to address your egregious misrepresentations and urge you to come clean to the American people.”
The lawmakers criticized Walz for falsely claiming to be a “Retired Command Sergeant Major” and for exaggerating his military service. “You have stated that you are ‘damn proud’ of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be. But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service,” the letter continued. “Repeatedly claiming to be a ‘Retired Command Sergeant Major’ when you did not complete the requirements was not honorable. Nor was it honorable to claim to carry weapons ‘in war’ when you had not served in war, and abandoning the men and women under your leadership just as they were getting ready to deploy was certainly not honorable either.”
The veterans argued that Walz’s false claims diminish the sacrifices of those who have genuinely served in combat. “To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat. Military service is not merely a job or a uniform. Those who serve in the Armed Forces endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend,” they wrote.
The letter also raised concerns about Walz’s potential to assume the role of Commander-in-Chief, given his past actions. “In short, our grave concern stems from the fact that the office of the Vice President is one heartbeat away from becoming the Commander-In-Chief. You’ve already demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain,” the letter stated.
Walz had used the title of Command Sergeant Major, to which he was conditionally promoted during his time in the National Guard. However, he was demoted upon leaving the service, as he did not fulfill all the conditions required for the rank. Walz left his unit, which was subsequently deployed to Iraq without him, to run for Congress—a race he won. Tragically, some of the men under his command did not return from their deployment.
The letter was signed by numerous veterans in Congress, including Brian Mast, Chair of Veterans and Military Families for Trump, U.S. Representative (FL-21), Staff Sergeant – U.S. Army (Ret.); Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator (IA), Lieutenant Colonel – Army National Guard (Ret.); and Roger Marshall, U.S. Senator (KS), Captain – U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.), among others. They collectively called on Walz to be honest about his service record, arguing that until he does so, he cannot be trusted to serve as Vice President.