Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) has publicly responded to CNN and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz regarding his and the Democratic VP hopeful's respective military service records, sparking a heated debate about honesty and integrity in military backgrounds.

Vance defended his record as a combat correspondent during the Iraq War, something that was skeptically critiqued this week by a CNN anchor, while he also questioned Walz's statements about his service in the Army National Guard, as the Daily Wire reports.

Vance Challenges Walz, CNN

Vance, currently serving as former President Donald Trump's running mate, was recently criticized by CNN’s Brianna Keilar, who suggested that Vance might be an “imperfect messenger” to criticize Gov. Tim Walz’s military record due to the senator's past role as a combat correspondent.

Keilar implied that Vance's service during the Iraq War may have been misleadingly presented as combat experience. In response, Vance took to the social media platform X to defend his service, stating he went to Iraq when called upon.

"Brianna, this is disgusting, and you and your entire network should be ashamed of yourselves," Vance wrote on X. "When I got the call to go to Iraq, I went. Tim Walz said he carried a gun in a war. Did he? No. It was a lie."

Accusations of “Stolen Valor” Stoked by Vance

Vance's criticism did not stop with Keilar. He also accused Walz of falsely claiming to have carried a weapon in a war. Trump War Room further fueled the debate by releasing a clip that highlighted what the campaign viewed as Vance's honesty about his service compared to Walz’s alleged inaccuracies.

Walz has a lengthy military background, having spent more than two decades in the Army National Guard. He was part of Operation Enduring Freedom but, according to the New York Times, did not serve in a combat zone.

In contrast, CBS News reported that Walz retired in 2005 before his artillery unit was deployed to Iraq. Amid these conflicting stories about Walz’s service, Vance's comments have intensified scrutiny.

Video Controversy Adds Fuel to the Fire

A video released by Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign showed Walz claiming to have carried weapons "in war." CNN’s Tom Foreman rebutted this by noting there was no evidence Walz had been in a combat situation in which he took enemy fire, as he had suggested.

This controversy led Harris’ campaign to revise Walz's biography. The biography originally described Walz as a "retired command sergeant major," but was later corrected to state he once served at that rank.

Additionally, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) provided further clarification. Walz had indeed been promoted to sergeant major but was later demoted to master sergeant after not completing the necessary academy training for his rank.

Vance's Public Statement in Michigan

Vance's criticism continued during a public appearance in Michigan. "I would be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did," Vance said, calling out Walz for what he referred to as “stolen valor garbage.”

The debate over military service integrity between Vance and Walz highlights the importance of transparency and accuracy when discussing military records, especially when used for political or personal gain.

As this issue unfolds, the public remains divided on the implications of the claims and counterclaims, with supporters and critics on both sides voicing strong opinions.

Conclusion

Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) has sharply criticized CNN and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over discussions of the VP candidates' respective military service records, defending his own service as a combat correspondent and questioning Walz's claims about his time in the Army National Guard.

The controversy centers around conflicting accounts of each figure’s military experiences, with Vance accusing Walz of falsely presenting himself as a combat vet.

CNN has pointed out the discrepancies in Walz's statements, and the Harris campaign has made corrections to his biography.

Vance continues to publicly challenge Walz, calling his actions “stolen valor garbage.”