Walz's career ascent from a state governor to a national candidate has placed his public record under the microscope. This scrutiny reveals several instances where Walz's statements about his personal and professional history do not align with verified facts.
Particularly, Walz's claims regarding his family's fertility struggles have come under fire. The Walz family has had to clarify that their path to parenthood did not involve in vitro fertilization (IVF), correcting his earlier public statements.
During his time in Congress and more recently, Walz inaccurately presented details about his military service. He claimed a higher military rank at retirement and recounted carrying weapons in combat, though he was never deployed to a war zone.
Military and Personal Claims Draw Criticism
Walz's 2006 congressional campaign was marked by controversies, including misleading statements regarding a past DUI arrest. The campaign had to correct the record after initially providing false details.
He admitted to the DUI in 1995, which he says led him to stop drinking entirely. This confession came only after discrepancies in his accounts came to light.
The campaign's inaccuracies extended to misstated details about his military service, which were later corrected in public disclosures.
In response to the 2020 uprising following George Floyd's death, Walz inaccurately claimed that the majority of the looters in the Twin Cities were outsiders. This statement was later debunked, highlighting challenges in his crisis communication.
Walz's handling of the pandemic also drew criticism. He mischaracterized the impacts of school closures on student learning during the 2020 pandemic, leading to further corrections by his office.
In 2022, he misrepresented statements about the readiness of schools during the 2021-22 school year, which were corrected after political opponents challenged their accuracy.
Retracted Statements and Late-Night Dealings
In March 2022, Walz announced an "after-action" report on COVID-19 which his aides later clarified did not exist. This incident raised questions about his communication accuracy.
Another controversy emerged in May when Walz claimed to have been involved in late-night discussions about an infrastructure deal. This too was refuted by his own spokesperson following a public records request, demonstrating a pattern of miscommunication.
Such incidents have fueled discussions about the credibility of his statements, especially as he steps into a larger political role.
Despite these controversies, some defend Walz's approach to communication. A spokesperson highlighted his candid, unrehearsed speaking style as relatable to the general public, contrasting it with more polished political rhetorics.
"Governor Walz speaks the way real people speak and often off the cuff. The American people appreciate that Governor Walz tells it like it is and doesn't talk like a politician, and they appreciate the difference between someone who occasionally misspeaks and a pathological liar like Donald Trump," the spokesperson told Axios.
This defense positions Walz as a straightforward, albeit sometimes inaccurate, communicator, stressing his authenticity over meticulous accuracy.
