Tim Walz misspoke when he claimed he had carried weapons “in war”, a spokesman for the Harris campaign has said.
The Democratic vice-presidential candidate was recently accused of shirking a military deployment in Iraq and exaggerating his service history.
The Harris campaign circulated a 2018 video in which the Minnesota governor framed his support for tighter controls on firearms within the context of his 24-year career with the Army National Guard.
He said: “We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.”
In fact, Mr Walz never saw active service in a combat zone, as he retired from the US National Guard before his battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2006.
According to National Guard records, he retired two months before the battalion was alerted of the deployment in July 2005.
Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance, himself a veteran of the US Marines, who served in Iraq, accused Mr Walz of “stolen valour”.
Responding to the criticism, a Harris-Walz spokesman said: “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to his country – in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.
“In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the Governor misspoke.
“He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritise the gun lobby over our children.”
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, responded: “Why won’t Tim Walz address his lies himself? Why does he need to send out lowly spokespeople to clean up his own mess?”
Mr Walz specialised in heavy artillery and had proficiency ribbons in sharpshooting and hand grenades but suffered hearing loss and tinnitus as a result, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
He was allowed to continue his service after undergoing surgery, which partially resolved his hearing loss.
Members of the National Guard receive much of the same basic training as active-service soldiers but tend to serve on a part-time basis of just one weekend per month.
According to Minnesota Public Radio, Mr Walz, who reached the rank of Command Sergeant Major, responded to floods and tornadoes in Minnesota and Nebraska during his 24-year service.
He had also been deployed overseas, but never in an active combat zone.
He was stationed in Norway for joint training with Nato forces and deployed to Italy to serve with the European Security Force to support the war in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2004.
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