JD Vance Explains Why Tim Walz Should Be ‘Disqualified’ as Kamala Harris’ Vice President

Gov. Tim Walz should not be allowed to serve as vice president because of misrepresentations he made about his time in the military, Sen. J.D. Vance said at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Thursday.

The Republican vice presidential nominee continued to criticize his Democratic counterpart, claiming that Walz is “insulting” troops with his lies.

And he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for trying to change the news cycle by playing the victim and accusing Republicans of attacking her running mate’s “honorable” time in the military and National Guard.

“We’re not attacking his honorable service, we’re attacking the dishonesty about that service which is not honorable,” Vance insisted at a campaign rally about an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh. “That is the height of dishonor, and Tim Walz should not be vice president of the United States.”

Speaking to reporters aboard Trump Force Two later Thursday, Vance said talking about Walz’s tenure is “honest” because he has “glossed over” details over the course of 15 years.

“(Harris) selected this guy, and they presumably vetted him. And now that there are obvious lies and embellishments coming out, they’re trying to hide and say, ‘No, no, you can’t criticize his service.’ Nobody criticizes his service,” Vance said.

“I’m not criticizing his time in the military,” he continued. “I’m criticizing the way he got out of it. I’m criticizing the fact that he lied and said he went to war when he didn’t. And I’m criticizing the fact that he embellished multiple parts of his service record in multiple media interviews over a 15-year period.”

“I think it’s absolutely right because I think it reflects his integrity,” Vance said. “And more importantly, I think it reflects the judgment of Kamala Harris.”

After joining local VFW Post 92 on Thursday morning, the Ohio senator energized the mostly veteran crowd by attacking Walz on the third anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Marine Corps veteran also held a moment of silence for the 13 fallen service members at the beginning of his speech.

Along with four other veteran politicians, Vance further incited opposition to Walz and painted a picture of a better life for current and former troops under a Trump-Vance administration.

Vance and other Republicans have jumped on Walz’s comments that appear to exaggerate his actions while in service, including the claim that he carried weapons of war “during the war.”

The Harris-Walz campaign claims their vice presidential candidate misspoke and criticizes Republicans for attacking his time in office.

“(Harris) selected this guy, and they presumably vetted him. And now that there are obvious lies and embellishments coming out, they’re trying to hide and say, ‘No, no, you can’t criticize his agency.’ Nobody criticizes his agency,” Vance told reporters aboard Trump Force Two on Thursday.

Vance shows off his new VFW Post 92 membership card during a rally in New Kensington, Pennsylvania on Thursday, August 15

JD Vance and his wife Usha share a kiss before his speech in Pennsylvania

“Let’s recap the truth,” Vance said at his rally. “Tim Walz said he carried a gun in the war. He never went to war. Tim Walz said he didn’t know his unit was about to be sent to Iraq, when even his own press release at the time said he knew exactly that. Tim Walz claimed to be a Command Sergeant Major, even had it on his challenge coins, and he knew he never achieved that rank.”

“And now Kamala Harris, showing poor judgment, has decided that she wants to solve this political problem by claiming that she and Tim Walz are the victims,” Vance wailed as the Pennsylvania audience laughed.

“I think the victims are the veterans who see their service discredited because the man who wants to be their vice president lies instead of telling the truth. I think they are the real victims.”