Governor Tim Walz found himself at the center of a firestorm Wednesday when a rally intended to honor military veterans in Minnesota’s Capitol Rotunda descended into a spectacle of open dissent. Walz, who has long faced accusations of embellishing his military record, was interrupted by a wave of angry veterans brandishing American flags and signs reading “Take Action.” The message was loud and clear: many of those who served don’t trust one of their own.
Shouts of “coward” echoed through the rotunda. Another heckler accused Walz of sympathizing “with the Chinese.” The pushback wasn’t new—but it was vocal, visceral, and very public.
🚨 Tim Walz was heckled and booed by military veterans in Minnesota today over his stolen valor. pic.twitter.com/It80ZIeZCC
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) April 10, 2025
Even more jarring was the response from one of Walz’s defenders, who attempted to silence the veterans with an explicit outburst: “shut your f**king mouth.” The comment, meant to support the governor, only served to highlight the tension in the room. Walz tried to regain control, brushing it off with a shaky joke: “Hey, there’s some passion in the building, which is a good thing.”
Eventually, Walz moved forward with his speech, promising strong support for veterans’ programs and budget protections. “We will fund them to where they need to be,” he said. But then came the swipe. Turning his ire toward Trump voters, Walz said, “Some of these guys voted for what’s happening at the VA, and they don’t like it,” before mockingly invoking the culture war: “If you want to fight issues on transportation or who the hell uses a bathroom, go fight ’em.”
It wasn’t a rallying cry—it was a reprimand.
Stolen Valor Tim Walz abandoned his troops so he could run for political office. Don’t take my word for it. Listen to the men he served with. pic.twitter.com/XtN2NBCLAG
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 21, 2024
The dust-up re-ignited longstanding questions about Walz’s service record. During his failed bid for the vice presidency alongside Kamala Harris, critics resurfaced claims of “stolen valor.” At the center of the controversy: Walz’s past comments suggesting he carried weapons “in war,” a claim later walked back after it was revealed he had never served in a combat zone. Even his timeline came under suspicion, with critics alleging he resigned his post just before his unit deployed to Iraq.
Fifteen Medal of Honor recipients issued a searing statement ahead of the 2024 election, denouncing the inflation of military credentials. “Fabricating military service is beneath the dignity of a veteran,” they said. Senator JD Vance didn’t mince words either, calling Walz out directly: “Do not pretend to be something that you’re not.”
Donald Trump at the Al Smith Charity Dinner: “Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself. But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was.” pic.twitter.com/KnECD1pSvo
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 18, 2024
President Trump, never one to let a controversy slide, got in a jab of his own during the Al Smith dinner: “Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself. But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was.”
