Folks, it looks like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, is under some intense scrutiny, and it’s not just about dodging questions. Since being tapped for the ticket over a week ago, Walz hasn’t faced the media, leaving many wondering what’s going on. But let’s break it down because there’s a lot more to this story than just silence.
First off, both Walz and Harris have been avoiding direct questions from reporters, which isn’t sitting well with everyone. Instead of engaging with the press, the campaign has leaned heavily on pre-written speeches, ads, and even influencer endorsements. Some of these endorsements are reportedly paid, which raises eyebrows about their authenticity. Meanwhile, they’ve been the subject of some glowing press coverage, even in pieces where they’ve chosen not to participate or comment.
Let me be clear: I am damn proud of my service to this country. pic.twitter.com/9a9rJSQurQ
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 13, 2024
In one of his recent speeches, Walz defiantly declared, "I’m damn proud of my military service," even giving a shoutout to JD Vance for his own service. On the surface, this might sound like a strong, confident statement, but it’s important to dig a little deeper. The problem isn’t with the pride Walz feels for his service; it’s with the way he’s portrayed it.
Over the years, Walz has been called out for exaggerating and even lying about his military service, including his final rank. But the biggest issue stems from his decision to retire before his unit deployed to Iraq. He knew the deployment was coming and chose to retire to pursue a political career instead. Many of the men he served with felt abandoned by his decision, and some, including his second in command, have been vocal about it for years. Despite these allegations, Walz has not taken the opportunity to set the record straight, continuing to push a narrative that doesn’t match up with the facts.
Tonight’s @thelauracoates interview with Walz’ direct enlisted superior [retired CSM] Doug Julin is pretty damning- Julin says sr leaders learned abt deployment in fall 2004 and Walz initially was going to stay and deploy before changing his mind. (1/2)pic.twitter.com/ayz7ESBAzA https://t.co/8a3K5eW7Dl
— Peter Meijer (@RepMeijer) August 10, 2024
But wait, there’s more. Recently, Walz’s integrity took another hit with the resurfacing of a DUI incident from his past. According to court and police records, Walz admitted to drinking before he was pulled over for speeding—96 mph in a 55 mph zone. The blood test showed he was well over the legal limit, yet during his 2006 campaign, Walz’s team denied that he had been drinking, claiming his failed sobriety test was due to hearing loss from his time in the National Guard. They even said he was allowed to drive himself to jail, which wasn’t true.
EXCLUSIVE: Tim Walz—in footage unearthed by @dcexaminer—called Hitler-promoting imam Asad Zaman a “master teacher” who offered Walz lessons over the time they “spent together"
The footage further contradicts the Harris campaign’s claim Walz has no personal relationship w/ Zaman pic.twitter.com/F1lKcJyzI1
— Gabe Kaminsky (@gekaminsky) August 13, 2024
Fast forward to now, and the details of that night have been confirmed by both the police and the state trooper who arrested Walz. The trooper debunked the claims of hearing loss affecting the test and confirmed that Walz was taken to jail by a state trooper, not allowed to drive himself. The Harris-Walz campaign declined to comment on this, which only adds to the questions swirling around Walz’s character.