A radio advertisement from 2006 featuring Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz falsely claimed him to be a “Retired Command Sergeant Major” during his initial run for the U.S. Congress. In the ad, which was discovered on August 2 before Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate, Walz refers to himself as sergeant major before discussing how his time spent operating artillery led to hearing loss.
He stated, “My name is Tim Walz and I’m running for Congress here in Southern Minnesota for several important reasons. But today, I’d like to tell you about one issue that’s very personal to me. I am a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Minnesota National Guard.” [Emphasis added.
The ad went on to explain how operating artillery resulted in hearing loss in one ear that required surgery, emphasizing the importance of healthcare. The New York Times confirmed Walz suffered hearing loss due to his service, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio. In 2005, he underwent corrective surgery to alleviate the problem.
Walz’s use of the rank “retired Command Sergeant Major” since his run for U.S. Congress has drawn significant criticism from members of the military community, with claims of stolen valor. Walz was not permitted to use that title after retiring because he failed to complete the necessary coursework. Breitbart News reported that Walz listed a higher military rank than the one he retired with, drawing criticism from some veterans.
The Kamala Harris campaign altered its official website’s biography of Walz by removing its reference to him as a “retired command sergeant major” and only mentioning that he served at that rank. CNN reported that Walz faced criticism for his service characterizations as far back as 2006 during his run for U.S. Congress, which he denied at the time.
A viral video shared by the Kamala HQ account on X featured Walz advocating for gun control before stating he had carried a weapon in war. The Harris-Walz campaign later claimed that Walz misspoke when he made this statement, even though Walz himself reposted the video just days prior to being tapped as Kamala Harris’s VP pick.
Another report from the Washington Free Beacon on Wednesday also alleged that Walz had previously presented himself as a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. Breitbart News reported that in a 2006 press release, Walz was described as being a “veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.” The war in Afghanistan, known as Operation Enduring Freedom, began on October 7, 2001, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.