GOP veterans write to Walz criticizing ‘misrepresentations’ of service

A group of 50 Republican lawmakers who served in the military wrote to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday, chastising the Democratic vice presidential nominee for “misrepresentations” of his military service.

The letter, which was shared by former President Trump’s campaign, marks the latest attempt by Republicans to attack Walz over his service since he joined the Democratic ticket. The lawmakers cited Walz’s past comments that he had carried weapons of war “in war” despite not serving in a combat zone, and his decision to resign from the National Guard months before his unit deployed overseas.

“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,” the lawmakers wrote. 

“Military service is not merely a job or a uniform,” they continued. “Those who serve in the Armed Forces endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend. The honor of wearing the uniform is earned through dedication, bravery, and an unwavering sense of duty. You have displayed none of these characteristics as you have lied your way through a political career launched on the foundation of a title you did not earn and combat deployments you did not take part in.”

The letter was led by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), a veteran who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan. It was also signed by GOP Sens. Joni Ernst (Iowa), Roger Marshall (Kansas), Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Rick Scott (Fla.), as well as several members of the House.

Walz is set to address the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday evening.

Since Vice President Harris added him to the Democratic ticket earlier this month, Republicans have scrutinized Walz’s time in the Army National Guard over when he retired from service, his rank in retirement and imprecise language he used several years ago to describe how he carried a weapon in war. 

Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), the GOP vice presidential nominee who served in the Marines, has repeatedly attacked Walz over the issue.

The Harris campaign initially referred to Walz as a “retired command sergeant major.” Walz reached that rank, but he did not complete the requirements to keep it before he retired.

The governor in a 2018 speech spoke of “weapons of war that I carried in war” during remarks about gun violence. Harris’s presidential campaign said in a statement Walz “misspoke” at the time.

And Republicans have criticized the Minnesota governor over the timing of his resignation from the National Guard before he ran for Congress in 2005, accusing Walz of abandoning his unit before it deployed overseas. But Walz announced his House campaign months before his unit was mobilized.

The governor spoke out over the attacks during a speech last week to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. 

“These guys are even attacking me for my record of service. And I just want to say, I’m proud to have served my country and I always will be. With my dad’s encouragement — a guy who served in the Army during the Korean War — I signed by for the Army National Guard two days after my 17th birthday,” Walz said.

“Then in 2005, I felt the call of duty again, this time of being a service to my country in the halls of Congress. My students inspired me to run for that office,” he added.