Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has taken issue with CNN’s portrayal of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s military retirement. During a recent interview, Vance argued that Walz was aware of his unit’s potential deployment to Iraq when he decided to leave the National Guard, contradicting Walz’s previous claims.
Vance cited a CNN segment featuring one of Walz’s former commanders, who stated the unit knew about the Iraq deployment in fall 2004. “He lied about that,” Vance asserted. “He said that when he decided to retire, he did not know he was going to Iraq. That is another untruth, as even his senior military officer said.”
The controversy stems from Walz’s 2005 congressional campaign. A press release at the time mentioned a possible deployment for Walz’s unit, yet he retired shortly after filing to run for office. Vance suggested that Walz left the military to pursue his political career, despite knowing his unit might be deployed.
Vance stressed that his criticism was not of Walz’s service, but of his honesty about the retirement circumstances. This debate has also revived questions about Walz’s military record, including reports suggesting he may have overstated his rank at retirement.
As the 2024 election nears, this exchange highlights the scrutiny facing candidates’ backgrounds and the media’s role in vetting public figures. Vance’s challenge to CNN’s framing reflects growing conservative frustration with perceived media bias in covering political controversies.
