In a recent interview with CNN, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) claimed that while Kamala Harris’ recently announced running mate Tim Walz has served in the Army National Guard, she was "not aware of any military service" that Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, served.

"Well, here is Tim Walz, who enlisted when he was 17. years old. He served in the National Guard for 24 years, and I’m not aware of any military service that JD Vance has ever served. so let's just make the comparison there," Smith said.

The lawmaker was cut off by host Jim Acosta, who chimed in, "He was in the Marines."

Vance enlisted in the Marines after graduating high school in 2003 and served four years as a combat correspondent. During his time in the Marines, he spent six months deployed in Iraq in late 2005, according to Stars and Stripes.

Walz’s time in the National Guard has come under fire after reports that he retired from his position as his battalion was preparing for deployment to Iraq.

In a letter published to the West Central Tribune in November 2018, Retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends and Retired Command Sergeant Major Paul Herr said that Walz "embellished and selectively omitted facts and circumstances of his military career for years." Walz had previously stated that he reenlisted in 2001 for four years, while service records stated that he reenlisted for six years.

A warning order was issued to the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in early 2005 to prepare to be mobilized for active duty in Iraq. The National Guard Sergeants Major wrote that Walz quit on May 16, 2005. They wrote that even if Walz had reenlisted for four years like he said, his retirement date would have been in September of 2005, not May.

Vance said on Wednesday, "I mean, your job as a senior enlisted guy in a unit is to keep your people safe. That's not a job you can switch out of on a moment's notice. So if he abandoned his troops before they went to Iraq or wherever ... absolutely shameful."

"There was a clip the Kamala campaign posted about him where he's making a gun control argument.  He said, 'Look, you should not be able to carry the weapons that I carried in war.' And I'm, I'm thinking to myself, well, when did you go to war? What weapon did you carry in the war, Tim, because apparently you skipped out on your unit before they went to Iraq."

"I know he didn't go to a combat zone, so why is he lying to make a political point?"