The Trump campaign recently released an epic ad criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for his alleged lies about his past military service. Walz has been continually questioned about the accuracy of his statements about his service in the National Guard, leading many to question his trustworthiness as a politician.

The ad addressed accusations against Walz that he retired after his unit was given orders to deploy in the Middle East.  “When his country and his state called up for leadership, Tim Walz abandoned them. In early 2005, his National Guard unit was ordered to deploy to Iraq. He said he’d go, but instead, he retired, leaving his soldiers without their senior non-commissioned officer,” the ad stated.

The clip then features commentary from retired Command Sgt. Major Doug Julin.  “He abandoned us. As soon as the shots were fired in Iraq, he turned around the other way,” he said. Retired Command Sgt. Major Paul Herr also said, “Governor Walz had disappeared, been retired, out and left, basically his troops high and dry.”

The ad concluded, “The New York Times exposed walls misrepresented his military record. In May 2020, as Black Lives Matter. Rioters burned down the police station, Governor Tim Walz Walz, again, abandoned, the people who counted on his leadership. Instead of immediately, sending him, the National Guard in coordinating with police, he downplayed the situation, and let the city burn. Twice, Tim. Walz was called to lead.  Twice, he ran away.”

The American Tribune recently reported on other controversy surrounding Gov. Walz. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce exposed him after he falsely claimed he was the recipient of an award during his run for Congress in 2006. The then-president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Barry L. Kennedy, requested that Walz remove the inaccurate statement from his campaign website.

Kennedy’s letter read, “We researched this matter and can confirm that you have not been the recipient of any award from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce.  I am not going to draw a conclusion about your intentions by including this line in your biography.  However, we respectfully request that you remove any reference to our organization as it could be considered an endorsement of your candidacy. It should be pointed out, however, that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed your opponent, Congressman Gil Gutknecht, for his support of small business issues.”

Regrading the scrutiny around Walz’s military service, Minnesota National Guard’s Director of Manpower and Personnel, Col. Ryan Cochran, released a statement regarding the governor’s time in the national guard, exposing a claim that Walz had forgone retirement and enlisted because 9/11.  However, Walz was not eligible for retirement until 2002.

Watch the anti-Walz ad from the Trump campaign below:

Cochran said, “Governor Tim Walz received his notification of eligibility for retirement on August 3, 2002.  He was promoted to sergeant major (E-9) on September 17, 2004, and immediately began serving as the command sergeant major for the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery while his packet was submitted to the National Guard Bureau to appoint him to command sergeant major (E-9). Once approved by NGB, he was laterally appointed to command sergeant major (E-9) on April 1, 2005. He retired from the Minnesota National Guard on May 16, 2005. Our records do not indicate when he made his request to retire. Leadership reviews and approves all requests to retire. He was administratively reduced to master sergeant (E-8) on May 15, 2005, because he did not complete all required U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy coursework.”

Featured image credit:  Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons,