Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz told journalist Dana Bash that he “misspoke” when he suggested he had used weapons “in war.” Mr. Walz has been under fire from his Republican counterpart for embellishing his military record and hinting that he had served in active combat. Vance’s criticisms came when video footage surfaced of Walz’s speech in which he condemned the availability of “weapons of war” on American streets.
“We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war,” Walz said, and was later called out by Vance, who noted that the Minnesota Governor had never actually been in a combat zone. Mr. Walz served 24 years in the National Guard.
Sitting down for their first interview together since they became the Presidential and Vice Presidential Democratic candidates, Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed their policy positions and plans for government. Harris said her first priority will be the economy and boosting the middle class, adding that she is proud of her record serving alongside President Biden. Asked why she did not implement her policy proposals over the past three years, she explained that the Biden administration prioritized getting the economy back on track following the coronavirus pandemic and bringing inflation back down.
On her economic record, Harris touted a significant reduction in child poverty and the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs under the Inflation Reduction Act, which also expanded and boosted clean energy. Bash then asked the Vice President about her change of heart on fracking, which she had previously said she would ban but now insists she won’t. She said her commitment to greener energy sources had not changed, but she has learned that this is not incompatible with fracking.
On Israel, Harris said she was unequivocal that the Jewish state has the right to defend itself, and the US would still support that defense under her leadership.
Regarding Donald Trump’s remarks that she had only recently begun identifying as a black woman, Harris shook her head and dismissed the comments. “Same old tired playbook. Next question, please,” she said.
