Kamala Harris has finally broken her silence on allegations that her running mate Tim Walz embellished his military service for political points.
Briefly taking questions for the first time as the Democratic nominee on Thursday, Harris was confronted with claims that Walz retired from the National Guard before he would have been deployed, and his remark this week that he ‘went to war.’
She responded: ‘Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country. And I think that we all should.’
President Biden also broke his silence on Walz’s selection as Harris’ Vice-Presidential nominee, as he reportedly told his campaign staff: ‘When you get to know him, he’s the real deal’, per CNN.
Kamala Harris finally took questions on Thursday from reporters, when she was faced with allegations her running mate Tim Walz (seen together) embellished his military record
Walz served 24 years in the National Guard, but never saw combat and retired in 2005 to run for congress after his battalion was set to be deployed
Walz served 24 years in the National Guard before he retired in 2005 ahead of his run for congress.
However, while he served as a command sergeant major, he was reverted back to master sergeant as he left the military before he had completed the coursework for the higher rank.
This week, Harris’ campaign was forced to make an embarrassing edit to his biography as it removed the higher rank from his profile.
Walz also raised eyebrows during his introduction speech on Monday as he made a point about gun control legislation, arguing people should not have access to weapons that he ‘carried in war.’
He quickly faced allegations that he never actually saw combat, although he did train with heavy artillery and was deployed to Italy in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Walz previously faced scrutiny for his claims that he served overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, with some feeling he implied that he served in Afghanistan.
Harris, seen speaking with a supporter on Thursday in Michigan, responded to allegations that her running mate embellished his military record by saying she ‘praises anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country’
Walz faced scrutiny over his past remarks that he served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, with some feeling this implied that he was deployed to Afghanistan when he was actually sent to Italy
Conservatives criticized the questions levelled at Harris on Thursday, feeling they were easier than they could have been.
Amid a back-and-forth from hers and Trump’s campaign over potential debates, Harris was asked for her reaction to news that Trump agreed to one in early September.
‘Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on September 10,’ she said.
‘I am happy to have that conversation about an additional debate, or after September 10, for sure.’
Harris added she is working with her team to finally sit down for an interview, saying she wants to get one scheduled ‘before the end of the month.’
Bloomberg journalist Matthew Yglesias led the criticisms of the softball questions, saying on X: ‘Peak journalism is that when you finally get a chance to ask the candidate a question you ask about when they will take more questions.’
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro added: ‘No, this doesn’t count as her answering serious or tough questions. This is a gentle hot stone massage.’