PHOENIX – The recent buzz surrounding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has raised questions about his military record after being named as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. A spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign clarified Walz’s comments made in a 2018 video, citing it as a simple misstep.

The scrutiny began when Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, challenged Walz’s military background following Vice President Kamala Harris’s announcement of him as her running mate.

In the controversial video, Walz advocated against gun violence, referencing his past experience with “weapons of war” and suggesting they should only be in the hands of trained military personnel. However, it was later revealed that Walz never served in a combat zone during his 24 years in various Army National Guard units.

Responding to the backlash, campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt stated, “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country. In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets, the Governor misspoke.”

Hitt added, “He did handle weapons of war and believes that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.”

It is important to note that Senator Vance himself served in the Marine Corps, deploying to Iraq as a combat correspondent in 2005.