Pete Buttigieg turns the table on JD Vance’s “stolen valor” claims with snappy 3-word phrase

For the past week, Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) has been accusing Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz of “stolen valor,” which is when someone lies about being in the military or about medals or honors they received as a part of their service. Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years.

But out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, himself a former servicemember, shot back at Vance’s concern for honesty by bringing up who Vance is on his party’s ticket with.

Related:

Pete Buttigieg slams Trump for ducking military service & disrespecting veterans

Trump reportedly faked having bone spurs and referred to World War II veterans as “suckers” and “losers” for dying during battle.

At issue is a statement Walz made in a video in 2018 about gun violence where he said that “weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” Vance said that Walz never saw combat when he was in the military (Vance didn’t either) and believes that Walz’s wording implies that he did.

Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024

Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter.

Daily

Weekly

Good News

“Well, I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? When was this?” Vance said last week.

“What was this weapon that you carried into war, given that you abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq, and he has not spent a day in a combat zone?” Vance said, referring to how Walz retired after 24 years in the Army National Guard to run for Congress. “What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage.”

Buttigieg was on CNN’s State of the Union yesterday, where he accused Vance of not really caring about honesty.

“There’s something much bigger at play here,” Buttigieg said when asked about those comments, after saying that Walz misspoke in the video but said that he has been correct when talking about his service otherwise. “I watched that interview and watched J.D. Vance present himself as suddenly very particular about precision in speech and very concerned about honesty. He’s running with Donald Trump, somebody who has set records for lying in public life.”

“He just gave a press conference where fact-checkers estimate that he told 162 distortions or lies that, frankly, is just impressive in terms of being able to physically do that,” Buttigieg continued, referring to NPR’s estimate of Trump’s lies at his Thursday news conference.

“It’s like the Olympics of lying,” Buttigieg said, signaling three words – “Olympics of lying” – Democrats could use to clap back at Vance’s claims. “So maybe just because it’s Sunday morning, I can’t stop thinking about the scripture that says, how can you look at your brother and say, let me take the speck out of your eye when you have a plank in your own eye?”

Buttigieg on Vance attacking Walz's service: "There's something much bigger at play here. I watched JD Vance present himself as suddenly very particular about precision in speech and honesty. He's running with Donald Trump — someone who has set records for lying in public life" pic.twitter.com/zKgByFA8F2

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2024

Don't forget to share: