CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday pressed Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) for his attack on Gov. Tim Walz’s (D-Minnesota) military record amid questions surrounding former President Trump’s history of dodging the Vietnam War draft.
Vance and other Republicans have repeatedly questioned Walz’s service in the National Guard, falsely claiming he decided to retire in 2005 after 24 years of service to avoid deployment to Iraq. Walz retired that year to run for Congress.
Bash pushed back against the attacks, questioning Trump’s lack of military service. He received a series of medical deferments to avoid the Vietnam draft, deferments that have since come under scrutiny.
“Donald Trump did not serve in the military. He got a medical deferral because of his bone spurs so he wouldn’t have to serve in the Vietnam War, reportedly as a favor to his father,” she said. “Do you think that’s embarrassing?”
“Donald Trump didn’t serve in the military, but I don’t think he lied about it,” Vance said. “Donna, I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time. Do you think he disrespects my military service or does he respect it?”
“Donald Trump didn’t lie about his military service,” he continued. “He didn’t say he went to Vietnam. That’s the problem.”
“I don’t criticize anybody whether they served our country or not. I think it’s an honorable thing to serve,” he added. “But there are certainly reasons why a lot of people don’t serve. I criticize anybody who whitewashes a lie by saying, “I went to war. I did.” Do you think it’s a problem that he said, “I went to war,” and he didn’t? In fact, I think it’s a problem.”
Waltz was deployed to Italy in 2003 to support U.S. troops in Iraq, but never deployed directly to a combat zone.
Vance also served in the military, deploying to Iraq as a public relations officer with the Marines as part of his four-year tour of duty.
The attacks on Walz have been compared, misleadingly, to the “Swift Boat” scandal that attacked Senator John Kerry’s (D-Massachusetts) military service record during his 2004 presidential campaign.
The Harris campaign has previously criticized attacks on Walz’s military record.
“After 24 years of military service, Gov. Walz retired in 2005 to run for Congress, where he served as chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee and was a tireless advocate for our men and women who serve in the military. As vice president of the United States, he will continue to advocate tirelessly for veterans and military families,” the campaign told The Associated Press last week.
