Vance Disputes CNN’s Timeline Of Walz’s National Guard Exit

In a spirited exchange on CNN, Republican vice presidential hopeful JD Vance challenged host Dana Bash’s account of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s military retirement. Vance argued that Walz was aware of a potential Iraq deployment before leaving the National Guard, contrary to Walz’s previous statements.

“On CNN last night, Dana, one of the people who was actually in charge of him said they knew they were going to deploy to Iraq in February of 2004, excuse me, fall of 2004,” Vance stated. “So, he knew he was going to Iraq, he decided to quit, to retire, whatever word you want to use.”

The controversy stems from Walz’s 2005 congressional campaign. A press release from that time mentioned a possible deployment for Walz’s unit, yet he retired shortly after filing to run for office. Vance accused Walz of dishonesty, saying, “He lied about that. He said that when he decided to retire, he did not know he was going to Iraq.”

Vance stressed that his criticism was not of Walz’s service itself, but of his truthfulness about the retirement circumstances. The Ohio senator suggested that Walz left the military to run for Congress, despite knowing his unit might be sent to Iraq.

This debate highlights ongoing questions about Walz’s military record, including previous reports suggesting he may have overstated his rank at retirement. As the 2024 election approaches, such controversies underscore the intense scrutiny facing candidates’ backgrounds.

Vance’s pushback against CNN’s framing reflects growing conservative frustration with perceived media bias in covering political figures. This exchange is likely to fuel further debate about the media’s role in vetting candidates and presenting information to the public.