Tim Walz Incorrectly Introduced at DNC
- Tim Walz was mistakenly introduced as 'command sergeant major' at the DNC despite no longer holding that rank.
- He retired from the Minnesota National Guard without the 'command sergeant major' title.
- The incorrect introduction sparked confusion and raised questions about attention to detail in the political event.
During the Democratic National Convention, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, was introduced as a “command sergeant major,” a title he lost prior to his retirement from the Minnesota National Guard. This introduction occurred at an AAPI Caucus Meeting, where a Trump 2024 campaign account highlighted that Walz had not completed the necessary coursework to maintain that rank. His provisional promotion was rescinded just a day before his retirement on May 15, 2005, leading to his official rank being “master sergeant.” Despite this, Walz has repeatedly referred to himself as a “retired command sergeant major” throughout his political career, suggesting he held a significant leadership position within his battalion. While he did serve in that capacity for a brief period, he chose to retire as his battalion prepared for deployment to Iraq, raising questions about his motivations. The controversy has drawn attention from veterans who served alongside Walz, with some alleging that he retired to avoid deployment. Neither Walz nor Vice President Kamala Harris has publicly addressed these claims or the inaccuracies regarding his military service. Instead, the Harris-Walz campaign has accused Republicans of attempting to undermine Walz's service record. Additionally, the campaign acknowledged a previous misstatement by Walz in 2018, where he claimed to have carried weapons “in war,” despite never having been deployed to a combat zone. This ongoing narrative continues to spark debate about Walz's military credentials.