Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had nowhere to hide when President Donald Trump called her to the podium to address National Guardsmen in Michigan on Tuesday.
Whitmer met Trump at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in southeast Michigan, where the president stopped during his 100 days celebration to announce that the base, which was at risk of shutting down, would receive a new fighter squadron. During his remarks, Trump thanked the governor for her work &#8220;trying to save&#8221; the base, and then asked her to speak.
Whitmer approached the podium and said she &#8220;hadn&#8217;t planned to speak&#8221; at the event.
&#8220;I am really damn happy we&#8217;re here to celebrate this recapitalization at Selfridge,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It&#8217;s crucial for the Michigan economy, it&#8217;s crucial for the men and women here, for our homeland security, and our future.&#8221;
&#8220;So thank you,&#8221; Whitmer said, looking back at Trump. &#8220;I am so grateful that this announcement was made today, and I appreciate all the work.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Whitmer: I had not planned to speak but… https://t.co/35mCWzkywY
&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1917320346950328502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Whitmer&#8217;s appearance at the Trump event followed her trip to the Oval Office earlier this month, where she was photographed while appearing to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gretchen-whitmer-mocked-for-trying-to-hide-her-face-from-cameras-in-oval-office?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Gretchen+Whitmer+Mocked+For+Trying+To+Hide+Her+Face+From+Cameras+In+Oval+Office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hide her face</a> with a binder. She later said she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whitmer-responds-to-folder-gate-after-shes-caught-hiding-from-white-house-camera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regretted</a> putting her folder in front of her face and laughed about the embarrassing photo, adding, &#8220;We all have our moments.&#8221;
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Gretchen Whitmer temporarily shielded herself from the cameras when she was in Trump’s Oval Office, per this photo from NYT’s <a href="https://twitter.com/erjlee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@erjlee</a><a href="https://t.co/TFDPPnci7Q">https://t.co/TFDPPnci7Q</a> <a href="https://t.co/hnLnvuQvlX">pic.twitter.com/hnLnvuQvlX</a>
&mdash; bryan metzger (@metzgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/metzgov/status/1911078950865903648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Michigan governor, who has been a fierce critic of Trump and Republicans, received some kind words from the president, who said that &#8220;the reason she came&#8221; to the White House was to try to save Selfridge.
&#8220;She was very effective, along with some of the other politicians and some of the military people who love this place,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;So I want to also thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it to our attention very strongly. And you know, I&#8217;m not supposed to do that. She&#8217;s a Democrat. They&#8217;d say, &#8216;Don&#8217;t do that, don&#8217;t have her here.&#8217; No, she&#8217;s going to be here. She&#8217;s done a very good job, frankly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> addresses Selfridge Air National Guard Base: &quot;For decades, they&#39;ve been trying to save this facility&#8230; I want to thank <a href="https://twitter.com/GovWhitmer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovWhitmer</a> for bringing it also to our attention very strongly&#8230; She was very much involved with the Republicans. They worked together on saving it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TcQ3HxXN8E">pic.twitter.com/TcQ3HxXN8E</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1917318771754041825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential contender, was criticized by some on the Left for embracing Trump when he arrived at the base. She took to social media to explain her actions and appearance at the Trump event, writing, &#8220;Bipartisanship isn&#8217;t about sacrificing our values.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ll work with anyone who&#8217;s serious about getting things done. But I&#8217;ll never compromise on what I believe. In Michigan, we know how to get things done—and that means working together,&#8221; Whitmer <a href="https://x.com/GovWhitmer/status/1917250428464415062" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll work with anyone to move our state forward. But let me be clear: I will never back down from protecting our fundamental rights, defending our democracy, or fighting for every Michigander&#8217;s future,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Bipartisanship isn&#8217;t about sacrificing our values. It&#8217;s about standing strong and finding common ground to get things done. It&#8217;s about putting people first, every single time.&#8221;

Donald Trump

Trump Makes Whitmer Show Her Face At Michigan Event

Executive

Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan

National Guard

Politics

At a time when the Pentagon is finally waking up to the physical collapse of our armed forces, Texas has a unique opportunity to lead.
In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sounded the alarm with <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4118161/rapid-force-wide-review-of-military-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a directive</a>: Military standards have dangerously eroded. “Our adversaries are not growing weaker,” he wrote. “Our tasks are not growing less challenging.”
He ordered a department-wide review of physical fitness, grooming, and readiness standards and <a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1907509325804798454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently stated</a>, “For too long, we’ve allowed standards to slip within the ranks for men and women serving in combat MOSs. This is unacceptable and over.”
He also welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Pentagon, pledging to ensure our warfighters are “healthy and fit to fight.” These moves reflect a growing recognition of the military’s readiness crisis — and that rebuilding a warrior culture requires action, not speeches.
Texas is answering that call.
The Texas Military Forces Health and Readiness Act (House Bill 4993) is a no-compromise legislative initiative to restore physical readiness, health, and resilience in the Texas Military Forces. It aligns with the Department of Defense’s renewed focus on standards and provides a battle-ready model that other states — and even the federal government — can adopt.
<h3>The Current Readiness Crisis And Systemic Failures</h3>
<div id="attachment_908487" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908487" class="size-large wp-image-908487" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg" alt="EL PASO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Texas National Guard soldiers transport border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 02, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Last week, hundreds of migrants seeking asylum clashed with Texas national guardsmen while waiting to turn themselves in to border patrol agents for processing. Texas continues awaiting a verdict on Senate Bill 4. Attorneys representing the state of Texas are scheduled to return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on April 3 to continue arguing for the constitutional basis of the bill. Senate Bill 4 allows state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants suspected of illegally crossing into the United States. Thus far, all prior attempts to put the Bill into effect have been blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The National Guard plays an increasingly vital dual role: it must respond to domestic crises and be ready to “fight tonight” in peer-level combat operations. Hegseth has emphasized the need to “match threats to capabilities.” But for states like Texas — where the Guard is expected to conduct disaster operations, support border security, and remain deployable worldwide — this mission cannot be met under current conditions.
This isn’t just about pushups. America’s military readiness crisis is real, and it’s gutting our combat capability across the force. Military readiness isn’t a slogan — it’s the bedrock of deterrence and victory. Yet today, 68% of U.S. service members are overweight or obese, according to a 2023 report by the American Security Project. Fitness-related health costs and lost duty time exceed $1.35 billion annually, directly sabotaging operational effectiveness. That’s bad enough for active-duty forces — but for the National Guard, the situation is catastrophic.
If active-duty service members with full access to resources are struggling, the situation for part-time National Guard forces is even more dire. In Texas, part-time Guardsmen train a fraction of the time compared to Active Duty. They are spread across vast distances, often without access to adequate training facilities, wellness programs, or basic fitness infrastructure. Unlike the Active Duty, the Guard operates with persistent disparities in funding, support services, and oversight. Wellness programs go underutilized, accountability is virtually nonexistent, and time for physical training is painfully limited. The result? A force on the edge of collapse — unfit, underprepared, and unable to meet the demands of today’s missions. This isn’t just a training problem. It’s a strategic liability.
<h3>The Army’s Food Scandal: A Symptom Of The Larger Collapse</h3>
Adding insult to injury is the military’s broken nutrition system. A January 2025 Military.com <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigation</a> found that the Army diverted over $151 million in food allowance payments from junior enlisted soldiers, with only 30% of those funds actually going toward meals. At Fort Cavazos in Texas, only $11.7 million of $42.5 million collected went to feed troops. Other bases relied on vending machines stocked with sugary snacks, or served meals of toast and lima beans — or no meals at all.
This isn’t just a logistical failure. It’s a betrayal of the trust and conditions necessary for building a capable, professional fighting force. For the National Guard, already starved of resources and time, this neglect is lethal. This is not a military prepared to win wars — it’s a hollow shell.
<div id="attachment_908491" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908491" class="size-large wp-image-908491" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg" alt="EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - JANUARY 12: National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Texas National Guard continues its blockade and surveillance of Shelby Park in an effort to deter illegal immigration. The Department of Justice has accused the Texas National Guard of blocking Border Patrol agents from carrying out their duties along the river. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
<h3>HB 4993: A Texas-Size Fix</h3>
HB <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB04993I.htm">4993</a> is a Texas-sized solution to this national crisis. It creates a comprehensive, accountable system to rebuild readiness:
<ul>
<li>Statewide Fitness Access: State-funded gym memberships and access to certified civilian trainers ensure Guardsmen across Texas can train consistently, regardless of location.</li>
<li>Integrated Digital Platform: Service members get real-time fitness tracking, customized plans, injury prevention, and mental health tools in a secure app.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Wellness Services: The bill funds rehabilitation, nutrition counseling, mental health support, and family-based fitness programs, because force readiness starts at home.</li>
<li>Performance-Based Culture: Structured incentives, advancement pathways, and public recognition will restore the warrior ethos and reward excellence.</li>
<li>Transparency and Accountability: Quarterly reports to the Legislature, corrective action plans, and unit-level oversight. If readiness falters, the system adapts — now, not later.</li>
<li>Minimal Cost, Maximum Return: This initiative delivers a high-impact return at a fraction of the $1.35 billion national fitness-related losses. This is a high-impact, low-cost readiness reform that delivers immediate and lasting results — saving lives, taxpayer dollars, and national security. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Reinforcing National Readiness Priorities</h3>
For too long, the physical and mental health of our service members has been allowed to rot — not because of funding shortages, but because of cowardice, complacency, and a lack of standards. HB 4993 rejects that failure. It embodies the resolve to act decisively and reforge a professional force worthy of the missions it’s expected to carry out.
This is the moment for Texas to lead. HB 4993 supports the national call to “Make America Healthy Again” and hands other states a clear, scalable playbook. The health, fitness, and discipline of our military are not internal HR concerns — they are national security imperatives.
Readiness isn’t negotiable. It’s the prerequisite for effective deterrence, mission success, and survival in a world of growing threats. Texas is doing its part. Now the Texas Legislature must rise to the occasion — and show the nation what readiness, resolve, and responsibility really look like.
* * *
Ammon Blair is a Senior Fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s ‘Secure &amp; Sovereign Texas’ Initiative.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Texas National Guard Works To Secure Southern Border In El Paso

Rebuilding The Warrior Class: Texas Can Lead With Military Fitness Reform

Department of Defense

Marines

Military

Obesity

Opinion

Pete Hegseth

Soldiers

Texas

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-walz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz</a> (D-MN) appeared to have trouble managing his own personal firearm when he went pheasant hunting on opening day in his home state of Minnesota on Saturday, participating in the 12th annual Governor&#8217;s Pheasant Hunting Opener.
Walz, who is vying for the vice presidency alongside current Vice President Kamala Harris, brought along staffers and reporters as part of an eleventh-hour media blitz geared primarily toward shoring up support among men for the Democratic Party&#8217;s 2024 ticket.
The Trump War Room shared video from MSNBC&#8217;s coverage of Walz&#8217;s outing, pointing out that even the reporter saw it for the political play that it was. &#8220;MSNBC implies that Tim Walz going pheasant hunting is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make up ground with male voters. Sorry Tim, men aren’t voting for a gun grabber.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
MSNBC implies that Tim Walz going pheasant hunting is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make up ground with male voters.
Sorry Tim, men aren’t voting for a gun grabber. <a href="https://t.co/Asvq38ObkM">pic.twitter.com/Asvq38ObkM</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1845103325957570920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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When the photos began to circulate on X, however, all anyone really noticed was just how often everyone involved in the pheasant hunt was pictured without a firearm of any kind — Walz included.
&#8220;Tim Walz goes &#8216;pheasant hunting&#8217; to try to appeal to men by showing he’s a regular dude. Only problem? No shotguns. Anywhere in sight,&#8221; Monica Crowley posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tim Walz goes “pheasant hunting” to try to appeal to men by showing he’s a regular dude.
Only problem?
No shotguns. Anywhere in sight.
 <a href="https://t.co/f7NZLVnV0x">pic.twitter.com/f7NZLVnV0x</a>
&mdash; Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) <a href="https://twitter.com/MonicaCrowley/status/1845158773293195302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Totally authentic. Walz just happened to have a camera crew and staff with him while pheasant hunting, in a sad, desperate attempt to appeal to male voters. Even MSNBC called him out on it lol,&#8221; Sara Rose posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Totally authentic. Walz just happened to have a camera crew and staff with him while pheasant hunting, in a sad, desperate attempt to appeal to male voters.
Even MSNBC called him out on it lol. <a href="https://t.co/YWzWGXRMhh">pic.twitter.com/YWzWGXRMhh</a>
&mdash; Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) <a href="https://twitter.com/saras76/status/1845105928955207726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;What&#8217;s @Tim_Walz hunting for, anyway? Bargains?&#8221; Jim Treacher asked.
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What&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> hunting for, anyway? Bargains?<a href="https://t.co/wVlPdiLjvK">pic.twitter.com/wVlPdiLjvK</a>
&mdash; jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/jtLOL/status/1845154153833591171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It&#8217;s strange to go hunting without a gun. Maybe Walz is just counting on Doug Emhoff to punch the pheasants to death,&#8221; Daily Wire host Michael Knowles added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It&#39;s strange to go hunting without a gun. Maybe Walz is just counting on Doug Emhoff to punch the pheasants to death. <a href="https://t.co/xd8y3VNN3R">https://t.co/xd8y3VNN3R</a>
&mdash; Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeljknowles/status/1845182313510076435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Tampon Tim Walz did a lot of posing for the cameras during his &#8216;hunting&#8217; photo op today. He didn&#8217;t fire his gun and shot exactly zero pheasants. It&#8217;s all fake,&#8221; the Trump War Room posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tampon Tim Walz did a lot of posing for the cameras during his &quot;hunting&quot; photo op today.
He didn&#39;t fire his gun and shot exactly zero pheasants.
It&#39;s all fake. <a href="https://t.co/84LxOE6SW0">pic.twitter.com/84LxOE6SW0</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1845184405394030986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The one video that did show Walz with a firearm — his own personal Beretta — only made things worse as he appeared to struggle to operate it.
CBS campaign reporter Shawna Mizelle posted, &#8220;@Tim_Walz is out hunting pheasants for the season opener in MN. The Harris Walz campaign recently announced the hunters, gun owners &amp; anglers coalition. Walz often says he supports the 2nd Amndmt but advocates for &#8216;common sense&#8217; legislation. &amp; we know Harris owns a Glock.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tim Walz brought his own gun, a beretta, to hunt for pheasants, he tells me. “
I bought it when I was we shooting a lot of trap,” the Minnesota governor said. <a href="https://t.co/K1zGkWYEPY">pic.twitter.com/K1zGkWYEPY</a>
&mdash; Shawna Mizelle (@shawnamizelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/shawnamizelle/status/1845136534766239825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Mizelle followed several photos with video of Walz attempting to operate his firearm and complaining, &#8220;It never fits quite right, it&#8217;s not quite right.&#8221;
&#8220;Watch Tim Walz struggle to load his shotgun and then complain that the kick usually hurts his shoulder. Men everywhere are in awe,&#8221; Amber Duke commented.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Watch Tim Walz struggle to load his shotgun and then complain that the kick usually hurts his shoulder. Men everywhere are in awe. <a href="https://t.co/sGu5IIBvN2">https://t.co/sGu5IIBvN2</a>
&mdash; Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) <a href="https://twitter.com/ambermarieduke/status/1845186717994696973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I remember my first time holding a shotgun, too,&#8221; The Federalist&#8217;s Sean Davis added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I remember my first time holding a shotgun, too. <a href="https://t.co/adCkz6Hlw2">https://t.co/adCkz6Hlw2</a>
&mdash; Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1845193621198245978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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At one point, according to Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie, Walz asked whether former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance — who make up the Republican presidential ticket — ever hunted. Someone responded by suggesting that if they did, they would hunt endangered species.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Gov WALZ was on a pheasant hunt today.
According to the pooler —
At one point someone brought up JD Vance &amp; Walz asked do &quot;those guys&quot; hunt? 
The person responded maybe endangered species. 
// 
Yikes.
&mdash; Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) <a href="https://twitter.com/aishahhasnie/status/1845180375607411055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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JD Vance And Tim Walz Face Off In Vice Presidential Debate In New York

24-Year Military Veteran And Self-Described ‘Gun Guy’ Tim Walz Struggles To Wrangle His Own Firearm

24-Year Military Veteran And Self-Described 'Gun Guy' Tim Walz Struggles To Wrangle His Own Firearm

Guns

Hunting

Tim Walz

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-justice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justice Department</a> charged five Chinese nationals on Tuesday for allegedly photographing an American military installation in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michigan.</a>
The five individuals are former University of Michigan students Zhekai Xu, Renxiang Guan, Haoming Zhu, Jingzhe Tao, and Yi Liang. The charges stem from an incident in August 2023 when authorities say they were caught taking pictures of military equipment during joint training exercises between the National Guard and the Taiwanese military at Camp Grayling in northern Michigan. 
They were accused of making false statements, conspiracy, and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations over the incident. The five men were in the United States as part of a partnership between the University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
According to an <a href="https://x.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1841579124030128269/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affidavit</a> from FBI special agent Caroline Colpoys, the five were found on August 23, 2023, between 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., at a lake adjacent to the Grayling Military Installation. They were at a boat launch with headlamps and cameras.
&#8220;This encounter happened during Northern Strike, one of the largest U.S. National Guard training exercises held in the United States, which included U.S. military personnel from across the United States and, in August 2023, members of the Taiwan military,” Colpoys said.  
When a National Guardsman confronted them, they allegedly falsely claimed to be members of the media. In later interviews with FBI investigators, they said they were just looking at the stars, according to the affidavit. 
After being confronted, the FBI said the five left the area and checked into a nearby motel. While they told investigators that the trip had been spontaneous, records showed that they had pre-booked the motel and were aware that there was a military installation at Camp Grayling. 
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
Investigators later said that they found pictures of military vehicles and other equipment on Guan’s phone after the group discussed deleting the photos from their devices so law enforcement could not discover them. 
DOJ spokeswoman Gina Balaya said that the five men, who graduated in 2024, had not been arrested.
“The defendants are not in custody. Should they come into contact with U.S. authorities, they will be arrested and face these charges,” she <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-students-michigan-military-camp-0f757785eb5eecb9e92ac89f99e96c2d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Wednesday. 
Colpoys, an agent focused on counterintelligence and investigating national security threats, referenced previous instances of Chinese nationals trespassing on military installations. In one incident, multiple Chinese nationals studying at the University of Michigan were sentenced to prison for taking pictures of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida.

Military vehicle convoy on a highway

5 Chinese Nationals Accused Of Photographing Michigan Military Facility

China

Communist China

Department of Justice

World

Four veterans who knew Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) spoke about about his service in the National Guard — and his subsequent claims about that service — during an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exclusive-four-veterans-speak-out-about-tim-walzs-stolen/id1532976305?i=1000668077691" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with podcast host Megyn Kelly that was released on Monday.
The four spoke with Kelly about the multiple controversies surrounding Walz&#8217;s own characterizations of his 24 years of service, from his claim that he retired without knowing that his unit was set to deploy to Iraq to his repeated statements about &#8220;retiring as a Command Sergeant Major,&#8221; and they had very few positive things to say about the man now vying for the vice presidency alongside Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
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In a brief preview of the episode, they could be heard referring to Walz as a &#8220;habitual liar,&#8221; a &#8220;coward,&#8221; and &#8220;morally indefensible.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;Morally indefensible&#8230;no integrity&#8230;habitual liar&#8230;I call him a coward, because he is&#8230;&#8221;
TOMORROW: Veterans who served with Tim Walz in the National Guard speak out together for the first time.<a href="https://twitter.com/SIRIUSXM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SiriusXM</a> ch. 111 at NoonET, and all platforms after.<a href="https://t.co/YJPxz5Gu8d">https://t.co/YJPxz5Gu8d</a> <a href="https://t.co/41XeeJzl3P">pic.twitter.com/41XeeJzl3P</a>
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MegynKellyShow/status/1830301876853555696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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One of the four accused Walz of using his exaggerations and embellishments to make it &#8220;all about him,&#8221; and another simply referred to him as a &#8220;military impersonator.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s a habitual liar, he lies about everything. He lies about stuff that doesn&#8217;t make sense,&#8221; one said. &#8220;You&#8217;re taking a piece of their thunder, and you&#8217;re trying to capture it and put it in a bottle for yourself, and use that for your own benefit.&#8221;
Fear is a reaction. Bravery is a decision,&#8221; he said later on in the episode, arguing that at every possible juncture, Walz had made the wrong choice.
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During one part of the episode, Kelly compiled a series of clips in which Walz either introduced himself as a &#8220;retired Command Sergeant Major&#8221; — or someone else introduced him as such and he made no move to correct them — in spite of the fact that he only held that rank conditionally and for a brief period not extending to his retirement.
&#8220;So he &#8216;misspoke&#8217; a lot,'&#8221; Kelly said as the clips finished playing. &#8220;And just so the record&#8217;s clear, September 2005, Minnesota National Guard discovered that his paperwork had been filed — was erroneous — saying he was retiring as a Command Sergeant Major, and they updated it to show that he was retiring as an E-8 Master Sergeant.&#8221;
Kelly concluded the segment by pointing out the fact that every clip she&#8217;d played of Walz claiming to have retired as a Command Sergeant Major had been recorded after September of 2005, when that correction had been made: &#8220;He knew he had been demoted.&#8221;
Watch the full episode here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Four Veterans Speak Out About Tim Walz&#039;s &quot;Stolen Valor&quot; &amp; Truth About Pre-Iraq Deployment Retirement" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qY89NZ2sRg0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee MN Governor Tim Walz Greets Voters At The Minnesota State Fair

Veterans Who Knew Walz Tear Him Apart: ‘Military Impersonator,’ ‘Habitual Liar,’ ‘Coward,’ And Worse

Veterans Who Knew Walz Tear Him Apart: 'Military Impersonator,' 'Habitual Liar,' 'Coward,' And Worse

Media

Megyn Kelly

Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-walz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz</a> (D-MN) attempted to explain away his misstatements and exaggerations about his time serving in the military by hiding behind a school shooting and claiming that his grammar was not the best.
Walz joined Vice President Kamala Harris in her first official interview since becoming the Democratic Party&#8217;s de facto nominee — a pre-taped 18-minute spot with friendly CNN anchor Dana Bash — and Bash asked him about comments he&#8217;s made previously about &#8220;carrying weapons of war in war&#8221; despite never serving in a combat zone.
&#8220;Tim Walz asked about lying and claiming he carried weapons in war said, &#8216;My grammar’s not always correct.&#8217; Holy crap. He’s a moron. He’s had a month to come up with a response and this is it?!&#8221; radio host Clay Travis posted.
WATCH:
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Tim Walz asked about lying and claiming he carried weapons in war said, “My grammar’s not always correct.” Holy crap. He’s a moron. He’s had a month to come up with a response and this is it?! <a href="https://t.co/wAgPJx470o">pic.twitter.com/wAgPJx470o</a>
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1829332941563949247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The country is just starting to get to know you,&#8221; Bash said to Walz. &#8220;I want to ask you a question about how you&#8217;ve described your service in the National Guard. You said that you carried weapons &#8216;in war,&#8217; but you have never deployed actually in a war zone. A campaign official said you misspoke. Did you?&#8221;
Walz began by restating, as he has many times, how proud he is of his 24 years of service in the Army National Guard.
&#8220;I&#8217;m equally proud of my service in a public school classroom, whether it&#8217;s Congress or the governor,&#8221; Walz continued, first suggesting that his false claims were just the result of his manner of speaking. &#8220;My record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me, I speak like they do.&#8221;
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He followed that with the suggestion that his exaggeration came about because he was &#8220;especially passionate&#8221; about making sure that kids did not get hurt. &#8220;I speak candidly, I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I speak especially passionately about our children being shot in schools and around guns, so I think people know me, they know who I am, they know where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years. It should speak for itself.&#8221;
&#8220;The idea that you said that you were &#8216;in war,'&#8221; Bash pressed. &#8220;Did you misspeak, as the campaign has said?&#8221;
Walz shook his head, replying, &#8220;Yeah, I said — we were talking about, in this case, this was after a school shooting, the ideas of carrying these weapons of war, and my wife, the English teacher, told me my grammar&#8217;s not always correct. But again, if it&#8217;s not this, it&#8217;s an attack on my children for showing love for me or it&#8217;s an attack on my dog. I&#8217;m not gonna do that, and the one thing I&#8217;ll never do is I&#8217;ll never demean another member&#8217;s service.&#8221;
As news of Walz&#8217;s answer spread across X, however, critics pointed out the fact that Walz had referred to National Guard troops as &#8220;19-year-old cooks&#8221; who were not even prepared to handle the riots that tore apart his state after George Floyd&#8217;s death.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tim Walz just said (falsely) that he would never “demean another member’s service and I never have.”
Here he is demeaning Minnesota National Guard members as “19 year old cooks.” <a href="https://t.co/GgLWPQCeUO">pic.twitter.com/GgLWPQCeUO</a>
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1829331451696836663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Day Three Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention

Asked Directly About Stolen Valor, Walz Hides Behind School Shooting, Bad Grammar

2024 Election

Kamala Harris

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Monday that if he wins back the presidency this fall, he will create a new reserve component for the U.S. Space Force.
Trump made the remarks while speaking at the National Guard Association of the United States conference in Detroit about national security issues.
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&#8220;One of my proudest achievements in my first term was to create Space Force, the first new branch of the Armed Forces in over 70 years,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now that Space Force is up and running, I agree with your leadership &#8230; that the time has come to create a Space National Guard as the primary combat reserve of the U.S. Space Force.&#8221;
&#8220;As president, I will sign historic legislation creating a Space National Guard into law,&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;We will make a historic investment in building a U.S. military for the 21st century, investing heavily in drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, hypersonics,&#8221; he added.
WATCH:
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PRESIDENT TRUMP: &#8220;One of my proudest achievements in my first term was to create SPACE FORCE, the first new branch of the Armed Forces in over 70 years&#8230; Now that Space Force is up and running, I agree with your leadership that the time has come to create a SPACE NATIONAL GUARD… <a href="https://t.co/u9ZQphUzOd">pic.twitter.com/u9ZQphUzOd</a>
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1828141786788716580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
Trump directed the creation of the U.S. Space Force in 2018 as the sixth branch of the armed forces.
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“Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea,” Trump said at the time. “We have the Air Force, we’ll have the space force.”
During his speech in Detroit, Trump added that he wants to create a missile defense system around the U.S. that is similar to Israel&#8217;s &#8220;Iron Dome.&#8221;
&#8220;And, we’re going to build a great Iron Dome for missile defense around our nation,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Other countries have said Israel has it. You know, Ronald Reagan wanted this many years ago, but we didn’t have the technology at that point. But now we have the technology.&#8221;

Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Holds Rally In Glendale, Arizona

Trump To Create New Reserve Component For U.S. Military Branch

United States Space Force

US-VOTE-POLITICS-WALZ-UNION

Stolen Valor: The Truth About Tim Walz’s Military Record

Stolen Valor: The Truth About Tim Walz's Military Record

interview

Iraq War

Minnesota

Morning Wire

Readers Pass

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s running mate, issued his Congressional Challenge Coin falsely claiming he had the status of a command sergeant major when, in fact, he <a href="https://www.startribune.com/walzs-24-years-in-national-guard-get-renewed-scrutiny-from-gop-opponent-who-didnt-serve/600216280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retired</a> as a master sergeant.
Some members of Congress have embraced a military tradition of minting custom coins. The Congressional Challenge Coins purport to include details about their lives and the districts they represent.
Evidence of the coin was first reported by the podcast <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVMkvv8PQhk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angry Cops</a>; it was corroborated by Daily Wire reporter Bree A Dail On X.
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Hi, <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a>— Just wondering, did you also “misprint” your rank as Command Sergeant Major on your Congressional Challenge Coin?
cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIILqMgj9S">https://t.co/KIILqMgj9S</a> <a href="https://t.co/fkZrb4luHv">pic.twitter.com/fkZrb4luHv</a>
&mdash; Bree A Dail (@breeadail) <a href="https://twitter.com/breeadail/status/1822647461044768885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Retired Sergeant Major Jason Jaskula — who has run the <a href="https://www.kiamemorialmarch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KIA Memorial Roadmarch</a> to honor the memory of his fallen buddy, Staff Sergeant Christopher Dill, killed in during Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 4, 2005, in Diyala, Iraq — was asked by Angry Cops what he thought of  Walz’s Congressional Challenge Coin. He responded:
<blockquote>
I think it is unethical. He was a conditionally appointed sergeant major but never earned the rank and literally no one would understand that except for a few military members and/or sergeant majors. &#8230; It’s like a private and basic training that becomes the platoon leader, and he gets to wear sergeant’s stripes on his shoulders, but then he goes home and shows pictures of it and then people think that he’s a sergeant. &#8230; As an actual retired sergeant major it pisses me off and minimalizes what I actually did. Feel free to use the quote as well that I spoke to sergeant majors and they all call him — never mind.
</blockquote>
“Challenge coins serve as a symbol of membership, belonging, and camaraderie, forging a strong bond among those who possess them. Additionally, they are used to acknowledge an individual&#8217;s achievements, dedication, or exemplary service, and serve as a tangible reminder of the appreciation and respect of their peers and superiors,” Fork Union Military Academy <a href="https://www.forkunion.com/the-honor-and-tradition-of-challenge-coins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explains</a>.
Doug Julin — who oversaw Walz in the Minnesota National Guard as a more senior command sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery — told CNN on Thursday that Walz went behind his back to retire after he learned that their unit would be deploying to Iraq.
“Receiving a challenge coin is a great honor, as it signifies that the recipient has played a special role, making a significant impact on their peers and the organization as a whole,” Fork Union Military Academy continues. “Today, challenge coins are used across all branches of the US military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. They have become an integral part of military culture and tradition, with each unit creating their unique coins featuring their insignia, motto, or other elements that represent their identity and values. &#8230; Possessing a unit&#8217;s challenge coin indicated that an individual was a trusted member of the team and shared the same values, experiences, and goals as their comrades.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tim-walz-repeatedly-misconstrued-his-military-service-here-are-the-examples">Tim Walz Repeatedly Misconstrued His Military Service. Here Are The Examples.</a>

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

Walz Issued Congressional Challenge Coin That Misstated His Rank

Congress

Iraq

Minnesota Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-walz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz&#8217;s</a> direct superior in the National Guard said this week that Walz went behind his back to get out of having to deploy to Iraq because Walz knew that he would have said no.
Doug Julin — who oversaw Walz in the Minnesota National Guard as a more senior command sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery — told CNN on Thursday that Walz went behind his back to retire after he learned that their unit was going to be deploying to Iraq.
Julin said that in the fall of 2004, he and his commander received a notification of sourcing alerting them that they would be deploying to Iraq within the next year and they proceeded to alert everyone under their command to prepare themselves.
At a meeting preparing for the deployment in February 2005 at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, Sergeant Major Walz approached Julin afterward and informed him that he was going to run for Congress. Walz told Julin that he had not been nominated yet, but he just wanted to give him a &#8220;warning order&#8221; about his plans.
In a meeting the following month, Julin says that Walz told him that he had not been nominated and therefore was &#8220;going forward with the battalion.&#8221;
Julin said that during a meeting in June, he learned from another National Guard member that Walz had quit, which surprised him because Walz would have had to go through his direct superior, which was Julin, in order to do so.
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Julin said that Walz went to someone two levels higher than him in the enlisted corps to get approval to quit.
&#8220;He knew the rules or the policies or the procedures and the manner of how to address issues going forward,&#8221; Julin said. &#8220;If this would have been an early entry, low-level ranking individual, different story. We would have understood that, okay, he didn&#8217;t understand the processes and the procedures. Tim Walz knew the processes and the procedures. He went around me and above and beyond me, and went to get somebody to back him, to get him out of there.&#8221;
&#8220;He did something wrong in service,&#8221; Julin said in explaining how Walz violated the chain of command. &#8220;He knew the policies and procedures and how we go to leadership and address issues or discuss issues and concerns out there. Again, backing up, he had told me, &#8216;No, I&#8217;m going forward, we&#8217;re going to go with the battalion, and go from there.&#8217; So, I&#8217;m under the believing, he told me he was going forward. I&#8217;m underneath that believing that he&#8217;s going forward. He went around me, which he should have addressed it with me so he could help me with some things out there.&#8221;
Julin said that Walz went behind his back because Walz knew that Julin would have said, &#8216;No, it&#8217;s too late, you&#8217;re going forward, because we&#8217;d already received our notification of sourcing.'&#8221;
He added that claims that Walz had not been notified about deploying were categorically false. &#8220;Yes, he had been notified,&#8221; he said.
Julin later <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/08/08/us-news/tim-walz-went-above-senior-sergeant-to-secure-retirement-in-2005/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the New York Post that Walz knew that Julin would have &#8220;challenged&#8221; his cowardly move to get out of having to deploy.
&#8220;He knew I would have told him, ‘Suck it up, we’re going,’” Julin said.
WATCH:
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Tonight’s <a href="https://twitter.com/thelauracoates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thelauracoates</a> interview with Walz’ direct enlisted superior [retired CSM] Doug Julin is pretty damning- Julin says sr leaders learned abt deployment in fall 2004 and Walz initially was going to stay and deploy before changing his mind. (1/2)<a href="https://t.co/ayz7ESBAzA">pic.twitter.com/ayz7ESBAzA</a> <a href="https://t.co/8a3K5eW7Dl">https://t.co/8a3K5eW7Dl</a>
— Peter Meijer (@RepMeijer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMeijer/status/1822065326957175150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a></blockquote>

US-VOTE-POLITICS-HARRIS-WALZ

Tim Walz’s Boss In National Guard Blasts Him For Cowardly Exit: ‘He Did Something Wrong In Service’

Elections

Minnesota Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-walz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Walz</a> served in the U.S. National Guard for 24 years. He even re-enlisted after 9/11 to serve once again. Yet the circumstances around his retirement – and the way he has presented his military service since retiring – have caused an uproar over whether he has misled about his service.
Here are examples of Walz making a claim about his service that is not supported by the facts.
His Official Government Biography
As of this writing, Walz’s <a href="https://archive.is/OEU2D#selection-1461.300-1461.430">biography</a> on the Minnesota government’s website says, “After 24 years in  the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.”
Walz briefly held the position of command sergeant major as a conditional promotion, provided he adhered to several stipulations, including one that he serve a specific amount of time after that promotion, which Walz failed to do. Thus, his rank reverted back to what he was before that conditional promotion: Master sergeant, which is still rank E8 out E10 and a major accomplishment.
The Minnesota National Guard, for which Walz served, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minnesota-national-guard-disputes-walzs-military-biography-confirms-he-didnt-retire-as-command-sergeant-major">confirmed</a> that at the time of his retirement in 2005, Walz was a master sergeant “for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.”
His Official Vice Presidential Campaign Biography
Walz’s <a href="https://archive.is/y0lck">biography</a> on Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign website originally said he was a “retired command sergeant major,” Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/08/harris-walz-military-credentials-00173236">reported</a>. That bio now says he “served as a command sergeant major.”
His Official Congressional X Account
Walz said in his own X profile that he was a &#8220;Command Sgt. Major.&#8221;
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Tim Walz was claiming to be a &#8220;Command Sgt. Major&#8221; even after he was elected to Congress. Here&#8217;s his old House account. Go look for yourself, it&#8217;s still up.
Dude has been stealing valor for a long time. <a href="https://t.co/cytfAKh1Fh">pic.twitter.com/cytfAKh1Fh</a>
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) <a href="https://twitter.com/bonchieredstate/status/1822716332305240423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Saying He’s A &#8220;Retired Sergeant Major&#8221; In An Interview
During an interview in 2018 while running for governor of Minnesota, Walz said he was “a retired sergeant major,” even though he is a retired master sergeant.
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WATCH: More stolen valor from Kamala’s VP pick Tim Walz:
Tim Walz on August 10, 2018: “I’m a retired sergeant major.”
Fact check: Walz NEVER completed the coursework for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. <a href="https://t.co/fFUzQRyQ6e">pic.twitter.com/fFUzQRyQ6e</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1821392015940112600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
Calling Himself A &#8220;Retired Command Sergeant Major&#8221; In An Address To Troops
In 2009, then-Rep. Walz sent a farewell message to soldiers deploying to Iraq, and called himself a “retired command sergeant major.”
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2009. Congressman Tim Walz sends a farewell message to some soldiers actually deploying to Iraq.
In the message, Walz claims that he is a &#8220;retired Command Sergeant Major.&#8221;
Lying about one&#8217;s rank in a farewell message to soldiers deploying is about as dishonorable as it gets. <a href="https://t.co/f7AIqPK8ky">pic.twitter.com/f7AIqPK8ky</a>
— MAZE (@mazemoore) <a href="https://twitter.com/mazemoore/status/1821567013451346251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
Tweeting That He&#8217;s A &#8220;Retired Command Sergeant Major&#8221;
In a tweet on July 18, 2018, Walz referred to himself as &#8220;a retired Command Sergeant Major&#8221; in a post on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The president undermined our national security this week at his summit in Helsinki. What&#8217;s more, Tim Pawlenty and Jeff Johnson both refused to condemn it. As governor and a retired Command Sergeant Major, I will never back down from protecting Minnesotans. <a href="https://t.co/bkITexFl8V">https://t.co/bkITexFl8V</a>
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1019683881010724869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Not Correcting Someone Who Described Him As A Retired Command Sergeant Major
During a segment on MSNBC some years ago, General Barry McCaffrey described Walz as a &#8220;retired command sergeant major&#8221; who served &#8220;time in combat.&#8221; When Walz spoke, he didn&#8217;t correct McCaffrey.
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ANOTHER STOLEN VALOR SMOKING GUN: Tim Walz is described as a &#8220;Retired Command Sargeant Major&#8221; with “time in combat” by General Barry McCaffrey and is NOT corrected by Walz. <a href="https://t.co/esbXkrGxa4">pic.twitter.com/esbXkrGxa4</a>
— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) <a href="https://twitter.com/Surabees/status/1822478480342151658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Issuing A Congressional Challenge Coin Saying He Was A Command Sergeant Major
As a congressman, Walz issued a Congressional Challenge Coin supposed to represent himself and the district he represents. Members of of Congress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walz-issued-congressional-challenge-coin-that-misstated-his-rank">have issued the coins</a> as part of a military tradition, but Walz&#8217;s falsely listed him as a command sergeant major.
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Hi, <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a>— 
Just wondering, did you also “misprint” your rank as Command Sergeant Major on your Congressional Challenge Coin?
cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIILqMgj9S">https://t.co/KIILqMgj9S</a> <a href="https://t.co/fkZrb4luHv">pic.twitter.com/fkZrb4luHv</a>
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) <a href="https://twitter.com/breeadail/status/1822647461044768885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Saying He Was A Command Sergeant Major In A Campaign Ad
While running for congress in 2006, the Walz campaign ran an ad that listed him as a &#8220;command sergeant major&#8221; and implied he went to Afghanistan by saying he retired four years late &#8220;after a tour supporting the war in Afghanistan.&#8221;
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Here is another example of Tim Walz using his Command Sergeant Major rank in a 2006 campaign ad. Walz even implies that he served in Afghanistan.
This is a full year removed from his demotion from a CSM-E9 to a MSG-E8.
This is textbook Stolen Valor.<a href="https://t.co/i0I47TBeyI">pic.twitter.com/i0I47TBeyI</a>
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrageDustin/status/1822954250541937135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Telling People He Carried Weapons &#8220;In War&#8221;
Walz said in a video shared by Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign that he supports limits to the Second Amendment. In the clip shared online, he says, “We can make sure that those weapons of war – that I carried in war – are the only place where those weapons are at.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/scamala-kamala-harris-unmasked" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH BEN SHAPIRO’S ‘SCAMALA: KAMALA HARRIS UNMASKED’ ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
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Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a>: I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. I’ve been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war,… <a href="https://t.co/3IVaXi2RP2">pic.twitter.com/3IVaXi2RP2</a>
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHQ/status/1820918063966962143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
Walz, as a member of the military who specialized in artillery, would have experience with the weapons he is talking about, but he never carried them “in war” as he never saw combat. Even CNN correspondent Tom Foreman called out Walz’s misleading statement, which would seem to indicate he had been in combat.
“Walz did make a comment, speaking to a group — he’s done it a couple of times, where he has used language that suggested that he carried weapons in a fighting situation,&#8221; Foreman said on Wednesday, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-fact-checks-tim-walz-about-absolutely-false-claim-he-carried-weapons-war">according to Fox News</a>.
&#8220;There is a difference between being in a combat area, being involved in a time of war, and actually being in a position where people are shooting at you,&#8221; Foreman said, adding that there &#8220;is no evidence that at any time Governor Walz was in the position of being shot at, and some of his language could easily be seen to suggest that he was. So that is absolutely false when he said that about gun rights out there.&#8221;
Calling Himself An “Enduring Freedom Veteran” At A George. W. Bush Protest
In 2004, Walz organized a protest against then-President George W. Bush, The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/elections/tim-walz-falsely-claimed-he-served-in-afghanistan-when-a-local-vet-called-him-out-his-office-did-nothing/">reported</a>. In a photo from that event, Walz can  be seen holding a photo that says “Enduring Freedom Veterans for Kerry.” Operation Enduring Freedom is a reference to the War in Afghanistan that began after the September, 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S.
But Walz never went to Afghanistan – he was sent to Norway and Italy in roles supporting the Afghanistan War, yet the mention of OEF leads people to assume he was in Afghanistan, which he was not.
In 2009, an Iraq war veteran <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-veteran-confronted-walzs-staff-about-military-service-in-2009">mentioned this photo</a> to Walz staffers and used it to suggest Walz may have violated Stolen Valor laws.
Implying He Served In Afghanistan In His First Campaign Announcement
During his first campaign in 2006, in which he ran for congress, Walz’s announcement indicated he was a “veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom,” in another example of Walz implying he had been to Afghanistan.
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Tim Walz’s VERY FIRST CAMPAIGN was built on a lie <a href="https://t.co/8Q5udHoZMs">https://t.co/8Q5udHoZMs</a> <a href="https://t.co/CmDkwUtUJE">pic.twitter.com/CmDkwUtUJE</a>
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterjhasson/status/1821548395699261445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
Saying He “Deployed In Support Of Operation Enduring Freedom” On C-SPAN
During an appearance on C-SPAN in 2007, Walz claimed he “deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” again implying he went to Afghanistan when he was actually in Italy.
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STOLEN VALOR gets worse for Kamala Harris’ VP pick…
Here is <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> on CSPAN back in 2007 on his military service:
“𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟒 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐧.
𝐈… <a href="https://t.co/j4JlWT5B1O">pic.twitter.com/j4JlWT5B1O</a>
— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) <a href="https://twitter.com/KylieJaneKremer/status/1821320132746211837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
Allowing Nancy Pelosi To Thank Him For His Service &#8220;On The Battlefield&#8221;
During a 2007 press conference, newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described then-freshman congressman Walz as a retired &#8220;command sergeant major&#8221; in the National Guard who had served &#8220;on the battlefield,&#8221; The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/elections/tim-walz-thanked-pelosi-after-she-recognized-his-service-on-the-battlefield/">reported</a>. Walz didn&#8217;t correct her, and the C-SPAN video of the event lists Walz as an &#8220;Afghanistan War Veteran,&#8221; even though he had never gone to Afghanistan.
Promoting Articles That Also Misled About His Military Service
In a 2006 kit sent to media during his campaign for congress, Walz included a list of articles, two of which gave false impressions about his military service, The Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/elections/tim-walz-promoted-media-misrepresentations-of-his-military-service-in-2006-run/">reported</a>. One article, from The Wall Street Journal, said that Walz &#8220;served overseas during the early war in Afghanistan.&#8221;
The Atlantic also published an article that described Walz as &#8220;a command sergeant major who’d just returned from fighting the war on terrorism.&#8221; This article also said Walz was one of a &#8220;number of veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq&#8221; who were running for Congress that year.
In Press Releases During His 2006 Campaign
Press releases from Walz&#8217;s first congressional campaign also suggested he had served in Iraq, the Free Beacon reported. One of these press releases featured an &#8220;in the news section&#8221; that included two stories discussing &#8220;Iraq war veterans running for congress.&#8221; Walz never went to Iraq.
In A 2005 Profile From A Local Paper
The Austin Daily Herald published a profile of Walz in 2005 that described Walz as a &#8220;retired Command Sergeant Major in the National Guard, who served a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom&#8230;&#8221; giving the false impression that Walz went to Iraq or saw combat. And it appears Walz spoke to the paper for the profile, given the quotes from him in the article.
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A local paper&#8217;s glowing profile of Tim Walz in 2005:
Walz &#8220;served a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom&#8221;
&#8220;He was deployed overseas with his National Guard field artillery unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom.&#8221;
It appears the reporter interviewed Walz for this piece&#8230;🤔 <a href="https://t.co/ID3Q2Fm4jE">pic.twitter.com/ID3Q2Fm4jE</a>
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) <a href="https://twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/1822097731193622593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In Josh Green&#8217;s Articles Featuring Profiles Of Walz
In this example, it is unclear whether Walz is to blame for the misleading phrases, or the veteran Bloomberg reporter Josh Green. In a 2006 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240729162947/https:/www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/01/company-left/304529/">profile</a> for the Atlantic, Green wrote that Walz left Minnesota “to serve overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom,” a clear implication that Walz went to Afghanistan.
Green also wrote that Walz was confronted by Bush staffers during his protest against the war, and said he had asked the Bush staffers if “they really wanted to arrest a command sergeant major who’d just returned from fighting the war on terrorism.”
And on Tuesday, Green <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-08-06/tim-walz-vice-presidential-pick-stands-out-as-teacher-and-veteran">wrote</a> for Bloomberg that Walz served “in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.” Bloomberg has since <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bloomberg-busts-out-one-hell-of-a-correction-amid-tim-walz-stolen-valor-furor">stealth edited</a> the line to say that Walz had served in Italy instead of Iraq. Green posted the correction on his X account.
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My Walz newsletter yesterday wrongly stated he&#8217;d served in Iraq &#8212; he didn&#8217;t. He served in Italy. My error. Story has been corrected online and on the terminal: <a href="https://t.co/H7ct8Rj7Yp">https://t.co/H7ct8Rj7Yp</a> <a href="https://t.co/r581UO90oc">https://t.co/r581UO90oc</a> <a href="https://t.co/yD3b8udiiR">pic.twitter.com/yD3b8udiiR</a>
— Joshua Green (JoshuaGreen.bsky.social on 🟦) (@JoshuaGreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaGreen/status/1821266872832082117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote>

Tim Walz Repeatedly Misconstrued His Military Service. Here Are The Examples.

Governor Tim Walz&#8217;s (D-MN) military career has been the subject of much scrutiny over the past few days, ever since Vice President Kamala Harris tapped him to round out the Democratic Party&#8217;s 2024 ticket.
Accusations of &#8220;stolen valor&#8221; and claims that he lied about his service quickly began to circulate along with the receipts, and while Democrats rally to defend him — and accuse Republicans of &#8220;denigrating&#8221; his service — it has become blindingly apparent that no one has done more to diminish Walz&#8217;s military accomplishments than he has.
That&#8217;s not to discount the 24 years Walz served: the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bloomberg-busts-out-one-hell-of-a-correction-amid-tim-walz-stolen-valor-furor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minnesota governor</a> enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard when he was just 17 years old, serving there from 1981-1996. He then transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, where he served from 1996-2005 — bringing his total time in service to just over 24 years. In that time, he earned the rank of master sergeant (E-8).
But Walz, according to numerous reports, has repeatedly &#8220;embellished&#8221; his military service. His official Capitol Hill biography — which he made no move to correct — stated that he retired at the rank of command sergeant major. However, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minnesota-national-guard-disputes-walzs-military-biography-confirms-he-didnt-retire-as-command-sergeant-major" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minnesota National Guard disputes that</a> and says that Walz, though conditionally promoted to CSM just prior to his retirement, failed to meet the conditions and was returned to his previous rank. In the Army, such a move might earn him the nickname &#8220;PX Ranger&#8221; — someone who bought his rank rather than earning it.
Other reports — some from the Minnesota National Guard soldiers who ultimately deployed without him — state that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tim-walz-said-screw-you-to-america-national-guardsman-who-reportedly-replaced-him-in-iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walz backed out</a> of those conditions and forfeited his promotion only after learning that his unit was set to deploy to Iraq. A move like that, leaving his men high and dry, would earn him the slightly less attractive code name Blue Falcon — translated: &#8220;Buddy f***er.&#8221;
Despite all that, in the time since, Walz has often <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-veteran-confronted-walzs-staff-about-military-service-in-2009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referenced his service</a> in more generous terms than perhaps it warrants. He&#8217;s said on a number of occasions that he &#8220;deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)&#8221; without offering any sort of clarification unless he was directly asked. When most people hear OEF referenced that way, they would likely assume Walz had deployed to Afghanistan — and Walz was undoubtedly aware of that.
In his efforts to promote stricter gun control, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/is-the-honeymoon-over-already-cnn-fact-checks-tim-walz-over-stolen-valor-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walz has claimed</a> that he just wants to make sure that &#8220;weapons of war, that I carried in war&#8221; cannot be owned and carried by civilians outside of combat. The obvious problem with that statement is that Walz never carried such weapons in combat because he never served in a combat zone.
Over the last 48 hours, since Harris named Walz as her running mate, the stories have come spilling out — and Democrats have scrambled to protect Walz and attack anyone who dares to suggest that he&#8217;s done anything less than honorable.
<a href="http://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1722714742764000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1XzmEsRwzti1RFNuISwYgd">WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI</a>
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, also an Army veteran, jabbed at the Republican vice presidential nominee — Ohio Senator and Marine Corps veteran JD Vance — in a <a href="https://x.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1821372919290757399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post on X</a>, saying, &#8220;Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldier’s service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is… kind of like denigrating the worth of a woman’s citizenship based on whether she happens to have children.&#8221;
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) <a href="https://x.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1821221087293669465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used the opportunity</a> to denigrate Vance&#8217;s service, saying, &#8220;Ok. JD served honorably, but he wasn’t kicking down doors. He was in public affairs. Which again, is fine and honorable. Tim, after he was eligible for retirement, retired. People do that. If it was a real problem he would have been &#8216;stop lossed&#8217; and prevented from retiring.&#8221;
But the reality is that no one has denigrated Walz&#8217;s service more than he did himself. He was the one who decided that 24 years and one month was not enough (he often claims he served 25 years). He was the one who decided that a deployment to Italy — in support of troops on the ground in Afghanistan (OEF) — was not as glamorous as letting people assume that he&#8217;d been in combat himself. He was the one who decided there was no real need to correct the record when his official congressional biography reflected a higher rank than his retirement records. And he is the one who, to sell gun control, continues to insinuate that he served in a combat zone.
What&#8217;s truly insulting to his service is that, in most cases, he has stopped just short of telling the actual lie himself. He simply left the statements open to interpretation — &#8220;I deployed in support of OEF&#8221; — knowing how the statements were likely to be interpreted and letting others do the real heavy lifting when it came to inflating his resume.
The Army has a list of core values that are taught in the form of an acronym: LDRSHIP. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Walz&#8217;s carefully cultivated statements — and equally cultivated omissions — fly in the face of nearly all of them.
***Virginia Kruta is a 10-year Army veteran, and although she did not deploy herself, she is also the daughter of an OEF veteran who served near Kandahar and the granddaughter of two World War II veterans.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz presidential campaign rally in Michigan

No One Denigrated Tim Walz’s Military Service More Than He Did Himself

No One Denigrated Tim Walz's Military Service More Than He Did Himself

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