On Wednesday, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his plans to deliver a significant speech this Friday in Phoenix, the same city and day as President Donald Trump’s scheduled rally.

Kennedy, who abandoned a bid for the Democratic nomination to run as an independent, will address the nation at 2 p.m. ET, shedding light on what his team has called “the present historical moment and our path forward.” The speech will also be live-streamed across various social channels.

Getting Kennedy’s name on ballots has been an uphill battle due to stringent state requirements for independent candidates, which often require collecting thousands of signatures or securing support from a minor party. On Tuesday Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate, hinted at two strategic options: pushing forward with their campaign or potentially aligning with Trump to avoid “risking” a Harris-Walz presidency.

“If we get over 5% of the vote, we actually establish ourselves as a party,” Shanahan said, pointing out the potential long-term benefits of remaining in the race. “There’s two options that we’re looking at.” The first involves staying in the race and laying the groundwork for a substantial third-party challenge in 2028. This path would avoid the hefty expenses associated with securing ballot access and would allow the party to focus resources on campaigning. “Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.”

In an NBC News interview on Wednesday, Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), revealed that there’s been “a lot of communication back and forth” between Kennedy and their campaign. “I haven’t spoken to RFK personally, but I know there’s been a lot of communication back and forth between RFK, between the campaign, between this campaign,” Vance explained.

“Look, our argument to RFK, and I’ll make it right now, because, of course, he hasn’t dropped out yet, is, look: If you want a Democratic Party that protected American workers and stood for strong borders, maybe disagreed with Republicans on things like tax policy, that party doesn’t exist anymore.”

“I know the president’s been working hard for that, but it’s completely separate from whether RFK gets a Cabinet position,” Vance continued. “It’s about welcoming a lot of those Democrats who feel abandoned by the party of Kamala Harris.”

Recent polls indicate a tight race heading into the election season, but only between two candidates. Kennedy trails both leaders by irredeemable margins at just roughly 3.0% in most polls. Kennedy’s presidential campaign has encountered numerous setbacks and controversies, significantly impacting his visibility and polling numbers. Notably absent from the campaign trail, Kennedy hasn’t held a public, campaign-sponsored event since early July, and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, has been missing from the scene for several months until resurfacing this week. The campaign has been marred by several damaging incidents as well.

These include allegations of groping by a former family babysitter and a peculiar incident where Kennedy allegedly used a bear carcass found roadside to fake a bicycle accident in New York’s Central Park years ago. Financial difficulties are further straining his campaign; in a CBS News interview last month, Kennedy disclosed a $3 million debt. Despite financial injections from Shanahan, who contributed millions to the campaign and received nearly a $1 million refund in July, fiscal issues persist. Kennedy’s efforts to secure ballot access across all 50 states have stumbled. Recently, he was disqualified from the New York state ballot after a judge ruled that the address he used on signature petitions did not reflect his actual residency.

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Former President Donald Trump scorched Democrat Illinois Governor JB Pritzker during a rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Speaking behind bulletproof glass, Trump derided Pritzker for his comments during Tuesday night’s Democrat National Convention.

“Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich,” said Pritzker. “Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.” A member of the affluent Pritzker family, he is known for his ownership of the Hyatt hotel chain and has been serving as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019.

“Illinois, I don’t know how it continues; you have this guy, Pritzker,” Trump said on Wednesday. “I don’t know, he’s too busy eating. He wants to eat all the time. Would you like a hamburger? How many do you want—five!”

“Would you like a hamburger? Yeah, okay? I’ll have five burgers, please.” He paused, letting the laughter subside.  “Who the hell orders five burgers?”

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Democrats, including Pritzker, are likely to continue their critique of Trump’s economic and political ideologies at the DNC. The convention is set to feature prominent figures on its third night, with vice presidential nominee Tim Walz (D-MN), former President Bill Clinton, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slated to speak during the primetime segment.

Meanwhile, the Republican campaign is in full swing, with former President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance (R-OH), scheduled to appear together at a rally in North Carolina this afternoon. This event is part of their ongoing tour of key battleground states this week. Horse traders betting on who will win the White House in November haven’t liked what they’ve seen so far at the DNC this week. That’s according to online political betting markets, which are trending back in favor of former President Trump.

At Polymarket, where bettors can stake wages on whether Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will win the election, Trump now carries a lead of 52% to 47%, a turnaround from pre-DNC figures showing him trailing Harris 48% to 52%, respectively. The change is a five-point increase in support for Trump and a corresponding four-point decrease for Harris, an overall nine-point swing that is a remarkable indictment of how the market is judging this week’s liberal spectacle in Chicago. Over $681 million has been staked on the betting site.

POLYMARKET, 8/19 (PRE-DNC)

Harris 52% (+4)
Trump 48%

POLYMARKET, NOW

Trump 52% (+5)
Harris 47%

A nine-point swing in the betting markets towards Trump during the DNC. They aren’t liking what they see.

— Red Eagle Politics (@RedEaglePatriot) August 21, 2024

Riots, teleprompter glitches, and embarrassingly long delays in programming have been noted by critics eager to contrast the Democrats’ moment in the spotlight with last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee which largely carried on time and drew millions of viewers. Harris, who is expected to speak Thursday, has continued to shun requests for interviews or media availabilities, instead relying on spokesman Michael Tyler to make vague commitments about when she will do so. After Biden’s advisors anonymously lashed out at the DNC for carrying the program into overtime to the point that the president took the stage around midnight on Monday, Tyler absurdly claimed that extended periods of applause over the course of the night contributed to the delays.

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As delegates convene in the heart of Chicago for the Democratic National Convention’s electrifying kickoff, the spotlight is on Kamala Harris and her vice-presidential pick, Tim Walz. However, recent forecasts have thrust former President Donald Trump back ahead, capturing a slender lead for November 5th.

While the Democrat duo is poised to take the stage in their bid, Trump and his running mate JD Vance are not sitting idle. They’ve embarked on their own strategic tour of pivotal battleground states, aligning their campaign efforts with the timing of the DNC to maximize impact.

The move appears to be paying dividends, according to the latest electoral forecast from The Economist, which places Trump narrowly ahead with 270 electoral votes to Harris’s 268. In Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona, Trump’s lead hovers around a delicate balance of 52-55% against Harris.

More notably, his advantage broadens significantly in states like Georgia and North Carolina, where the forecasts suggest a 64-67% likelihood of his victory. On the other side, Harris maintains a slight edge in Wisconsin and a more comfortable lead in Michigan, signaling that the race is anything but settled. These states, with their diverse electorates and unique political landscapes, could very well dictate the trajectory of this tightly contested election.

#Latest @TheEconomist Forecast

Electoral Votes
Donald Trump: 270
Kamala Harris: 268
——
Swing States (chance of winning)

Pennsylvania – Trump 52-48%
Nevada – Trump 52-48%
Arizona – Trump 55-45%
Georgia – Trump 64-36%
North Carolina – Trump 67-33%… https://t.co/EbLAE1rYHA pic.twitter.com/oROye88EEf

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) August 19, 2024

Trump’s campaign strategy, focusing on these battleground states during the Democrat convention, is a classic move in political chess, aiming to capture the narrative and sway media coverage. By aligning his campaign stops with the DNC, Trump seeks to juxtapose his leadership record against the promises of Harris and Walz.

The elections are occurring in a politically charged environment. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has led to significant state-level changes in abortion laws. This issue has been a significant driver in Democrat victories in recent elections and will continue to play a critical role in 2024. Election interference is also a concern, with reports of foreign attempts to influence the elections. The legal challenges facing Trump, including multiple indictments related to his actions during and after his presidency, have further polarized the electorate.

The election will be the first held after the reapportionment of electoral votes following the 2020 Census. This reapportionment has slightly shifted the balance of electoral votes, with Democrats losing a net three votes. As a result, the election is expected to be closely contested, with strategists predicting that a small percentage of voters in key swing states will determine the outcome.

As the DNC progresses, all eyes will be on how Harris and Walz address these forecasts and articulate their vision. Their challenge is not only to rally their base but also to address the concerns of swing-state voters who are pivotal in deciding the direction of the presidency. As both camps sharpen their strategies and refine their messages, the American electorate is left weighing a decision that will shape the nation’s future.

The winners of the presidential election are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, as the 47th president and 50th vice president of the United States.

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)

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As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, the stage is set for a week-long showcase of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, ready to present their plans to beat former President Donald Trump this November. However, on Monday, CNN analyst Scott Jennings delivered a brutal critique that left the liberal network’s panel visibly stunned.

In a fiery rant, Jennings challenged the integrity of the Democratic nomination process. Addressing CNN’s Abby Phillip, he contrasted the Republican and Democratic primaries, stating, “Republicans had a real primary. The Republicans had a primary where people showed up and they voted their preferences and then the person they voted for actually got the nomination of the party. That’s not what the Democrats did. They had a rigged primary where 14 million people voted for Biden, and then they changed their minds later.”

Jennings did not hold back, suggesting that the DNC had engineered the nomination process to favor their preferred candidate, disregarding the popular vote. Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s former Communications Director, attempted to defend the party’s process, alluding to the routine nature of an incumbent president facing minimal opposition in the primaries.

“She was on the ticket with him that got 14 million votes in this primary. Also, the incumbent president running effectively more or less unopposed in the primary is pretty, pretty standard operating procedure. So to suggest, now that — that’s somehow sort of some sort of undemocratic effort is just that’s just not true. That’s not true.”

WATCH:

.@ScottJenningsKY to @AbbyPhillip: “[Republicans] had a real primary. I mean, the Republicans had a primary where people showed up and they voted their preferences and then the person they voted for actually got the nomination of the party. That’s not what the Democrats did. They… pic.twitter.com/cJN7jIhMXX

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 19, 2024

However, Jennings quickly countered by highlighting the unusual manner of Biden’s resignation, accusing the Democratic leadership of forcing him out via a tweet on a Sunday morning. “You ran the President of the United States out of his job by tweet,” he explained. The panel struggled to respond as Jennings continued, “You guys — party bosses, I get it. Like, you all are rough players.”

The DNC, set for August 19-22 at the United Center in Chicago, will see delegates formally nominate Vice President Harris for president, alongside her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. Earlier in the year, after Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris, she quickly gained enough delegate support to become the presumptive nominee. The nomination process included early online and phone voting from August 1 to 5, following adjustments due to ballot deadline conflicts. The main events at the United Center include an afternoon business session on August 19, where delegates will vote in person on the party platform and officially nominate the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Vice President Harris is set to take the stage right after Biden touts his administration in a primetime address, pushing the case for Harris in the process. Not far behind on tonight’s lineup is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This week’s speakers don’t stop there. In the battleground states, former President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance are ramping up their campaign trail appearances. Trump is set to challenge the Democrats for airtime with a full slate of daily events in key battleground states, focusing on issues where Republicans believe they have the upper hand. This will mark his most active campaign week since facing primary challengers last winter.

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)

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JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, was aboard Trump Force Two when the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Milwaukee International Airport today.

The plane, operated by Eastern Air, returned around 1:30 p.m. following a reported issue with the aircraft. The plane was cleared for takeoff at about 2:15 p.m. Officials confirmed the aircraft landed smoothly and taxied on its own to the terminal without any problems according to WISN12.

“The pilot advised there was a malfunction with the door seal. After declaring an emergency, Trump Force Two returned to Milwaukee,” Taylor Van Kirk, a spokeswoman for Vance, reported. She added, “As soon as the issue was resolved, the plane returned to its originally planned flight path back to Cincinnati.”

Kaitlan Collins reported on X that the pilot “advised there was a malfunction with the door seal. After declaring an emergency, Trump Force Two returned to Milwaukee. As soon as the issue was resolved, the plane returned to its originally planned flight path back to Cincinnati.”

After an emergency landing in Milwaukee, a Vance spokesperson says his pilot “advised there was a malfunction with the door seal. After declaring an emergency, Trump Force Two returned to Milwaukee. As soon as the issue was resolved, the plane returned to its originally planned…

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 16, 2024

The Republican vice presidential nominee delivered remarks on Friday to the Milwaukee Police Association. The event marked Vance’s second trip to the battleground state of Wisconsin this month.

First it was a malfunction with President Trump’s plane, now JD Vance’s plane malfunctions. That’s not suspect at all. pic.twitter.com/6MI73PAPOE

— 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠 (@chiIIum) August 16, 2024

During his speech to the Milwaukee Police Association, Vance praised the efforts of Wisconsin law enforcement during the RNC and called for the need for policies that support police officers rather than hinder them. “First to the men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department and all the law enforcement of Wisconsin who supported us certainly today but during the Republican National Convention. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt safer in such an incredibly stressful and high-intensity environment.”

“The most important way to honor their sacrifice is to make the job of their brothers and sisters in arms easier, right? Why did they give their lives? They gave their lives for the basic idea of public safety,” he said. He argued that policies under the current administration make it harder for police to do their jobs and advocated for a shift in leadership. “We need a president, Donald J. Trump, who makes their job easier and not harder,” Vance said.

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Vance highlighted the crisis at the border and its effects on communities as far north as Wisconsin as well. “When you hear Republicans say every state is a border state, that is not just a slogan. That is a sad reflection of the reality that we have drug cartels operating about as far north in this country as we possibly could.”

The nominee also addressed the fentanyl crisis, noting its devastating impact on American youth. “Normal American teenager mistakes have become death sentences because Kamala Harris refuses to do her job,” Vance said, criticizing the current administration’s handling of the issue.

As he concluded his remarks, Vance urged the officers in attendance to continue their vital work, promising that a Trump administration would make their jobs easier. “In about six months, your job is going to become a hell of a lot easier. God bless you guys, and thank you for having me here in Wisconsin.”

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)

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On Thursday, the Harris-Walz campaign agreed to only two of the three presidential debates proposed by President Donald Trump, and to a single vice presidential debate out of the two that JD Vance proposed to Tim Walz. Kamala Harris ultimately turned down the Fox News debate.

“The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign accepted our proposal for three debates – two presidential and a vice presidential debate,” the Harris-Walz campaign team said in a statement. “Assuming Donald Trump actually shows up on September 10 to debate Vice President Harris, then Governor Walz will see JD Vance on October 1 and the American people will have another opportunity to see the vice president and Donald Trump on the debate stage in October.”

“Voters deserve to see the candidates for the highest office in the land share their competing visions for our future. The more they play games, the more insecure and unserious Trump and Vance reveal themselves to be to the American people. Those games end now.”

BREAKING: The Harris campaign just released a statement agreeing to participate just two of the three presidential debates President Trump challenged Kamala to and one of the two VP debates JD Vance challenged Walz to. pic.twitter.com/SRdA7hVjve

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 15, 2024

The one debate with former President Trump is scheduled for September 10 on ABC News, despite Trump’s willingness to participate in additional debates on September 4 on Fox News and September 25 on NBC News. Harris’s team clarified that she will not engage in the debates on Fox or NBC but is open to an October debate, contingent upon Trump’s participation in the September 10 event.

Trump had initially agreed to two debates with Biden, scheduled for June 27 and September 10. However, Biden resigned from the race in late July, paving the way for Democrats to unite behind Harris as their new nominee. Since then, Harris has experienced a significant surge in the polls. Key issues in the election include abortion rights, border security, immigration, climate change, the economy, education, foreign policy, healthcare, and LGBT rights.

On the vice presidential side, Minnesota Governor Walz and Senator Vance are set to debate on October 1, hosted by CBS News. Although Vance has pushed for a second debate on September 18 on CNN, the Harris campaign has confirmed that only one vice presidential debate will take place, maintaining the customary practice.

Vance expressed his strong preference for frequent debates at Thursday’s campaign event in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. “I think we ought to do as many debates as we possibly can,” Vance said. He mentioned that CNN had invited him to participate in a vice-presidential debate scheduled for mid-September. “I told my staff, agree to whatever we have to agree to, because I think it’s important, again, that you stand before the American people and actually ask for their vote, not just pretend it’s going to be given to you.”

Be careful, Tim Walz knows a thing or two about not showing up to debates https://t.co/pUtnYi17wt pic.twitter.com/jXt4Wo6d5l

— Scott Jensen (@drscottjensen) August 14, 2024

During his 2022 re-election campaign, Walz chose not to participate in a debate held on October 23, leading to renewed attention on social media. Some users are now highlighting what they see as an embarrassing moment for the Democrat by circulating a screenshot from the debate. The image shows Walz’s former Republican challenger, Scott Jensen, standing opposite an empty podium.

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In an interview on ABC News’s “This Week” Sunday program,  GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance (R-OH) took the opportunity to clarify his and the Trump campaign’s stances on several pressing issues. Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, engaged in a heated exchange with ABC anchor Jonathan Karl, during which he corrected Karl’s interpretations and fact-checked him live on air.

One of the most contentious moments came when Vance tackled accusations about the Republican stance on family rights and gender issues. Vance vehemently refuted Karl’s claims that Trump wrongfully characterized Tim Walz’s intrusive policies that could separate children from parents over disagreements on gender reassignment treatments. Vance argued that opposing such interventions was a matter of respecting parental rights and diverse worldviews, rather than endorsing state overreach.

“What President Trump said, John, is that Tim Walz has supported taking children from their parents if the parents don’t consent to gender reassignment. That is crazy. And by the way, Tim Walz gets on his high horse about mind your own damn business. One way of minding your own damn business, John, is to not try to take my children away from me if I have different worldviews than you.”

“That’s not what he’s proposed,” Karl said back.

“If you disagree with decisions about gender reassignment, yes, he has proposed that, John,” Vance responded. “He absolutely has.”

WATCH:

The interview, set against the backdrop of an increasingly tight race following Vice President Kamala Harris assuming leadership of the Democrat ticket, saw Vance defending the Trump campaign’s proposals and his own past remarks on women and childless people. Despite the pressure, Vance expressed his unwavering confidence in the Trump campaign’s prospects, underscoring a robust election strategy.

“I think we’re going to win. I also think that we have to work as hard as possible for the remainder of the election to try to persuade Americans to vote for us,” Vance said to Karl. “That’s the name of the game.”

The interview also touched on broader immigration and social policies, with Vance defending the campaign’s approach to undocumented immigrants and their proposed measures to enhance national security and uphold the rule of law. Vance escalated his criticism of Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, prompting a swift response from Democrats who rallied in support of the governor.

Vance revisited the migrant crisis issue, attributing it to Harris and the Biden administration’s policy decisions, particularly the termination of the “Remain in Mexico” policy. “You start with what’s achievable,” Vance said. “I think that if you deport a lot of violent criminals and frankly if you make it harder to hire illegal labor, which undercuts the wages of American workers, I think you go a lot of the way to solving the illegal immigration problem.”

“I think it’s interesting that people focus on, well, how do you deport 18 million people? Let’s start with 1 million. That’s where Kamala Harris has failed. And then we can go from there.”

Vance also spoke out against critics targeting his wife. “My attitude to these people attacking my wife is, she’s beautiful, she’s smart. What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and very lucky man,” he said. “If these guys want to attack me or attack my views, my policy views, my personality, come after me. But don’t attack my wife. She’s out of your league.” For now, Vance and the Trump campaign are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to secure a victory in the upcoming election.

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)

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JD Vance (R-OH) the GOP vice presidential nominee, sparred with host Dana Bash in a compelling CNN interview over the weekend. Known for his somewhat straightforward style, Vance did not hesitate to voice his opinions about Democrat rivals, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

“We’re running against a set of policies that I think have failed the American people,” Vance told Bash early on. “President Trump delivered lower prices, lower inflation, a prosperous and peaceful world and also a secure border and Kamala Harris’s policies have produced the exact opposite.”

As the interview progressed, Bash challenged Vance on his portrayal of the Democrats, particularly his use of the term “weird” to describe Walz’s behavior. Vance defended his choice of words by alluding to the moment when Walz gave his wife a “nice firm Midwestern handshake” instead of a more affectionate gesture during his VP announcement, which Vance described as indicative of the Democrats’ discomfort with their policies.

“So I think that what it is, is two people, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who aren’t comfortable in their own skin because they aren’t comfortable with their policy positions for the American people. And so their name calling, instead of actually telling the American people how they’re going to make their lives better. I think that’s weird, Dana, but look, they can call me whatever they want to,” Vance explained.

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The Ohio Senator’s remarks come as a response to Democrats rallying around a statement from Walz, who, in an MSNBC interview weeks before being chosen as Harris’ running mate, called former President Donald Trump and Vance “just weird.”

The campaign trail has also heated up with Vance launching attacks over the military record of Governor Walz. Bash brought up the accusations, leading to one of the more heated moments of the discussion. However, Vance stood firm, saying, “This is a guy who was captured on video saying I carried a gun in war. He never went to war.”

“He’s a veteran of a war nodding along in agreement instead of saying ‘no, no, no, I did serve my country and I did it honorably, but I never went to a war zone.’ I’m not criticizing Tim Walz’s service,” Vance said. “I’m criticizing the fact that he lied about his service for political gain, Dana. Now I served in the United States Marine Corps and you know this. And look, there are a lot of things that I’m proud about.”

“He knew he was going to Iraq,” Vance said. “He decided to quit — to retire; whatever word you want to use … because he wanted to run for Congress. He lied about that. He said that when he decided to retire, he did not know he was going to Iraq. That is another untruth, as even his senior military officer said.”

“The truth is that Tim Walz didn’t tell the truth, and importantly, Dana, this is about Kamala Harris’ judgment.”

Vice President Harris and former President Trump are bracing for a busy week as they continue their pursuit of the White House. The two are set to face off in a highly anticipated debate on September 10, which was finalized after prolonged discussions.

(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)

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CNN political commentator Brianna Keilar downplayed J.D. Vance’s military service while attempting to defend Minnesota Governor Tim Walz from criticism over his military record.

Governor Walz has been under fire this week over questions surrounding his military service record. Soldiers from his unit with the Minnesota National Guard have questioned the circumstances surrounding his retirement just before a deployment to Iraq, and have noted that he has misrepresented his rank while on the campaign trail.

He has also claimed to have “carried weapons of war,” during a war,” and has insinuated that he was a veteran of the War in Afghanistan.

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“I also think that J.D. Vance as a messenger on this may be an imperfect messenger because we have, as you introduced him, as a combat correspondent, which was what his title was. But when you dig a little deeper into that, he was a public affairs specialist, someone who did not see combat, which certainly the title, combat correspondent, kind of gives you a different impression,” Keilar said, seemingly downplaying Vance’s 2005 deployment to Iraq. “So he may be the imperfect messenger on that.”

Vance soon responded to Keilar’s statement in an X post.

It’s easy to sit in the comfort and safety of a @CNN studio and trivialize the service of countless men and women who risked their lives. I served with some of the people mentioned in this thread,” Vance wrote while tagging Keilar. “I served with some of the people mentioned in this thread. I miss them all very much. Shameful of  @brikeilarcnn to slander an entire MOS.”

The tweet was made in response to several questions surrounding the military record of Governor Walz.

In a 2018 endorsement letter to the West Central Tribune, retired Command Sergeant Majors Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr shared their lengthy experiences with Governor Walz during their time in the Minnesota National Guard

“Tim Walz has embellished and selectively omitted facts and circumstances of his military career for years,” the men wrote. “We, retired Command Sergeants Major of the Minnesota National Guard, feel it is our duty and responsibility to bring forth the truth as we know it concerning his service record. So, we have put together a timeline of his service post 9/11.”

The retired veterans further accused Walz of abandoning his unit just before they were deployed to a combat zone in Iraq. In 2005, one year after he had been promoted to Command Sergeant Major of the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, Walz left his soldiers “hanging” at the crucial time, the men wrote.

“His excuse to other leaders was that he needed to retire in order to run for congress,” reads the letter.  “Which is false, according to a Department of Defense Directive, he could have run and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty; as many reservists have.

“If he had retired normally and respectfully, you would think he would have ensured his retirement documents were correctly filled out and signed, and that he would have ensured he was reduced to Master Sergeant for dropping out of the academy. Instead he waited for the paperwork to catch up to him. His official retirement document states, SOLDIER NOT AVAILABLE FOR SIGNATURE.”As a result, Walz was demoted to master sergeant, the two retired veterans continued.

This, they claim, contradicts his claim that he was the highest-ranking enlisted man ever elected to Congress.

CNN has conceded that Walz has used loose language to describe his military exploits, while the Harris Campaign has quietly deleted reference to his rank

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was seen fleeing at a brisk pace when a reporter asked him about reports that he has misrepresented his military service record.

The exchange came shortly after Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris touched down in Wisconsin for the second in a series of swing state campaign rallies after Walz was formally selected as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate on Tuesday. As Walz and Harris mingled with a hand-selected group of supporters on the tarmac, a reporter could be heard asking questions about the Minnesota governor’s service record.

“Governor, Vance accused you of stolen valor. Your response?” the reporter shouted. After he failed to receive a response, the reporter once again asked the same question as Walz was turning to leave the tarmac.

At that point, the governor’s pace picked up significantly as he quickly darted towards an awaiting Secret Service vehicle.

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Walz has been under increasing scrutiny not only from the Trump-Vance campaign, but left-leaning media outlets such as CNN as questions continue to surround his military service record.

In a 2018 endorsement letter to the West Central Tribune, retired Command Sergeant Majors Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr shared their lengthy experiences with Governor Walz during their time in the Minnesota National Guard.

“Tim Walz has embellished and selectively omitted facts and circumstances of his military career for years,” the men wrote. “We, retired Command Sergeants Major of the Minnesota National Guard, feel it is our duty and responsibility to bring forth the truth as we know it concerning his service record. So, we have put together a timeline of his service post 9/11.”

The retired veterans further accused Walz of abandoning his unit just before they were deployed to a combat zone in Iraq. In 2005, one year after he had been promoted to Command Sergeant Major of the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, Walz left his soldiers “hanging” at the crucial time, the men wrote.

“His excuse to other leaders was that he needed to retire in order to run for congress,” reads the letter.  “Which is false, according to a Department of Defense Directive, he could have run and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty; as many reservists have.

“If he had retired normally and respectfully, you would think he would have ensured his retirement documents were correctly filled out and signed, and that he would have ensured he was reduced to Master Sergeant for dropping out of the academy. Instead he waited for the paperwork to catch up to him. His official retirement document states, SOLDIER NOT AVAILABLE FOR SIGNATURE.”

As a result, Walz was demoted to master sergeant, the two retired veterans continued. This, they claim, contradicts his claim that he was the highest-ranking enlisted man ever elected to Congress.

On Wednesday, Republican nominee for vice president J.D. Vance accused Walz of stolen valor over the claims.

“As a Marine who served his country in uniform when the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it. I did what they asked me to do, and I did it honorably,” he said. “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he’s been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with.”

Vance continued, “I think it’s shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you’re going to follow through, and then to drop out right before you actually have to go.”

He went on to point to a past statement from Walz in which he seemed to suggest that he carried weapons in a combat zone. “I’ve been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can do CDC research. We can make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states,”  Walz said while addressing a group of supporters about gun control.

“And we can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are allowed.”

The claim that Walz “carried weapons of war” in a war zone has drawn heavy criticism from a number of media outlets, including CNN.

“There is a significant difference between being stationed in a combat area during wartime and being under direct enemy fire,” noted CNN. The network’s fact-check pointed out that no evidence supports Walz’s implications of facing direct combat, labeling these assertions as “absolutely false.

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