Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) criticized Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Wednesday for disparaging the military service of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). Kelly questioned Vance’s respect for military values, reminding him that Walz dedicated decades to military service.
Kelly, a former Navy captain and Operation Desert Storm veteran, acknowledged that both Vance and Walz deserve recognition for their military contributions. He urged Vance not to emulate former President Donald Trump’s derogatory comments about veterans, emphasizing that such behavior is unworthy of those who have served.
United States Senator Mark Kelly slams GOP VP nominee JD Vance for questioning Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s military serviceBoth vice presidential candidates have military backgrounds, with Vance serving in the Marines and Walz in the National Guard. Vance accused Walz of “stolen valor,” claiming that Walz misrepresented his service by stating he served in war despite never being deployed to a combat zone.
Vance’s comments appeared to be in response to a clip shared by the Harris campaign, where Walz mentioned carrying weapons of war during his service. Although Vance acknowledged not seeing combat himself, he noted his 2005 deployment to Iraq as part of the Marines’ public affairs unit.
Kelly, who was considered for the vice presidential role before being passed over for Walz, transitioned to a career with NASA and later entered politics after leaving the Navy. In a statement, a spokesperson for Vance accused Walz of misleading the public about his military service, suggesting that Kelly might have been a better choice for the vice-presidential nomination.