Walz Dodges Accountability Over Stolen Valor Claims With School Shooting Deflection

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attempted to deflect criticism over his misleading statements about his military service by invoking a school shooting and blaming his poor grammar. During a recent interview alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Walz faced questions about his previous claims of "carrying weapons of war in war," despite never having served in a combat zone.

When pressed by CNN's Dana Bash, Walz leaned on a convoluted explanation, stating, "My grammar's not always correct," and suggested that his exaggerations stemmed from his emotional response to school shootings. Instead of taking responsibility for his misstatements, the governor chose to hide behind the tragic issue of gun violence, a move that has left many questioning his integrity.

Radio host Clay Travis was quick to react, tweeting, “Tim Walz asked about lying and claiming he carried weapons in war said, ‘My grammar’s not always correct.’ Holy crap. He’s a moron. He’s had a month to come up with a response and this is it?!”

This isn't the first time Walz has found himself in hot water over his military record. Despite his 24 years of service in the Army National Guard, his claims of combat experience have been repeatedly called into question. Bash directly confronted him about his inaccurate statements, asking, “You said that you carried weapons ‘in war,’ but you have never deployed actually in a war zone. A campaign official said you misspoke. Did you?”

Walz's response was an attempt to shift the focus, citing his service, his pride in his record, and his passion for protecting children. He stated, “I speak especially passionately about our children being shot in schools and around guns, so I think people know me, they know who I am, they know where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years. It should speak for itself.”

However, his refusal to directly address the issue of his false claims left many unconvinced. Bash pushed further, asking if he indeed misspoke as his campaign suggested. Walz’s response was a muddled mix of excuses, ending with, “My wife, the English teacher, told me my grammar’s not always correct... But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children for showing love for me or it’s an attack on my dog.”

Critics on social media were quick to point out the absurdity of Walz’s justifications, noting that this is the same governor who disparaged National Guard troops as “19-year-old cooks” during the George Floyd riots, questioning their preparedness to handle the chaos in his state. Walz's repeated dodging of accountability only adds to the growing concerns about his leadership and honesty.

As Walz continues to sidestep responsibility for his misleading claims, one thing is clear: his credibility is on the line, and voters may not be as forgiving as he hopes.

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