A new debate is heating up on the campaign trail as Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, scramble to find any criticism they can use against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
Their main focus seems to be attacking Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. They’re criticizing him for his response to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, despite Trump having initially praised his handling of the situation. Now, they’re also accusing Walz of dodging his responsibilities while he was in the military.
Did Donald Trump serve in the military?
This strategy is a bit surprising given Trump’s own history with military service. Vance is eager to criticize Walz but avoids real scrutiny of his own military record. Both Walz and Vance did serve in the military, though neither saw combat. But what about Trump?
Donald Trump famously avoided military service. During the Vietnam War, he managed to dodge the draft multiple times. Trump received four deferments because he was in college, and the fifth came because of a “bone spur” diagnosis, which kept him out of combat and military service altogether. This avoidance of service stands in stark contrast to the military records of Walz and Vance, making Trump’s criticism of Walz seem especially out of place.
In short, Trump’s attempt to criticize Walz’s military service feels like a risky move, given his own track record of dodging military duty.
