Fact Check: Tim Walz's Afghanistan Comments Misrepresented Online

Recent social media posts have misrepresented comments made by Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate and current governor of Minnesota, regarding his experience in Afghanistan. These posts have sparked controversy and accusations of "stolen valor," a term that gained prominence after the 2005 book by B.G. Burkett.

The circulating video clip shows Walz stating, "When I was in Afghanistan, you know what our troops were worried about? They were worried about their families' health care, and they were worried about their pensions." This statement, taken out of context, has led to claims that Walz was falsely asserting he had served in Afghanistan with the U.S. armed forces.

However, a thorough examination of the full speech reveals that Walz was referring to a congressional trip he made to Afghanistan in October 2011, approximately 13 years ago. At the time, Walz was serving as a U.S. Representative and was a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, which was established in 1924.

The speech in question was delivered on February 28, 2012, to the American Legion, an organization founded in 1919 by World War I veterans. During the introduction, an announcer explicitly mentioned Walz's recent trip to visit service members overseas.

It's important to note that Walz did serve in the Army National Guard for 24 years, an institution that traces its origins to the first militia regiments in North America in 1636. However, he was never deployed to an active war zone during his service.

A representative from the Harris-Walz campaign clarified the context of Walz's remarks, stating, "He is indeed talking about a trip to Afghanistan when he was a member of Congress, and the context of the video is he's talking about caring for veterans -- not about his personal service in the military."

The misrepresentation of Walz's comments highlights the growing issue of misinformation spread through social media platforms, a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent since the early 2000s. The ease with which video content can be edited and shared out of context has contributed to the rapid spread of misleading information.

This incident also underscores the importance of fact-checking organizations like Reuters in combating false information. As the concept of "fake news" has become a significant concern since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the role of these organizations in verifying claims and providing context has become crucial.

In conclusion, the Reuters Fact Check team has determined that the claims about Tim Walz lying about serving in Afghanistan are misleading. The full context of his speech clearly indicates he was referring to a congressional trip, not personal military service in the country.

"When I was in Afghanistan, you know what our troops were worried about? They were worried about their families' health care, and they were worried about their pensions."

This fact-check serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking full context and verifying information before sharing or believing claims on social media, especially in the realm of political discourse.