Amidst controversy surrounding Tim Walz's military record, CNN anchor Brianna Keilar suggests that JD Vance may have embellished his own service history as a Marine.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has come under fire from CNN after anchor Brianna Keilar questioned the accuracy of his military service history. Vance, who served as a U.S. Marine in Iraq, has been sharply criticizing his Democratic rival Tim Walz over his own military record.
Keilar's comments came during a discussion about Walz's claims of carrying a gun in combat, which have been disputed by critics. Keilar noted that Vance's title as a "combat correspondent" may have given the impression that he saw combat, but that his role as a public affairs specialist involved non-combat duties.
CNN's Brianna Keilar Raises Questions About JD Vance's Military Service
"So he may be the imperfect messenger on that," Keilar said, referring to Vance's attacks on Walz.
Vance responded swiftly, condemning Keilar's remarks as "disgusting." He asserted that he had never claimed to have been in direct combat, but had always been truthful about his service.
CNN's Brianna Keilar Raises Questions About JD Vance's Military Service
"I served in a combat zone," Vance said. "That's the difference."
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CNN's Brianna Keilar Raises Questions About JD Vance's Military Service
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Walz's military record has intensified. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends, who served with Walz, has accused him of misleading voters by implying he carried weapons in combat. CNN has also fact-checked Walz's claims, concluding that there is "no evidence" to support them.
Walz, who served in the Minnesota National Guard, was deployed to Europe in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 but did not see combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. He retired as a master sergeant in 2005.
CNN's Brianna Keilar Raises Questions About JD Vance's Military Service
The Harris campaign has since updated Walz's biography on their website to reflect that he "served as a command sergeant major" rather than "retired Command Sergeant Major."
Despite Vance's attacks, Walz has received support from the Harris campaign, which released a statement defending his service and thanking him for "putting his life on the line for our country."
The controversy has raised questions about the politicization of military service and the importance of accurate representation of military experiences.
