Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, has clarified his remarks made in a resurfaced video from 2018 where he mentioned handling assault weapons "in war." The clarification comes after scrutiny from Republicans, including GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who accused Walz of "stolen valor" due to concerns over his military record.

In the video, which was circulated by the Harris campaign, Walz can be heard stating, "We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war." However, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, Lauren Hitt, issued a statement acknowledging that the governor misspoke in the clip.

Hitt emphasized that Walz would never undermine or insult any American's service to the country, and thanked Senator Vance for his own service. She further clarified that Walz believes only military personnel, trained to handle these deadly weapons, should have access to them. Hitt criticized President Donald Trump and Vance for prioritizing the gun lobby over the safety of children.

Governor Walz's military background includes serving in the Army National Guard for 24 years before retiring in 2005 to enter politics. While he deployed to Italy in 2003 as part of the US' war effort in Afghanistan, he did not serve in a combat zone.

The Trump campaign has been quick to discredit Walz's military service ever since he joined the Democratic ticket. At a recent campaign event in Michigan, Vance criticized Walz for being dishonest about his military record, calling it "stolen valor." In response, Walz's supporters have defended his service and questioned the motives behind the attacks.

President Trump also indirectly referred to the attacks on Walz during a campaign rally in Montana, where he praised GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, for his valor and contrasted it with a different kind of valor in reference to Walz.

As the clarification from the Harris campaign aims to address concerns over Walz's military record, the political debates surrounding his service are likely to continue in the days leading up to the election.