Retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends had scathing words for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the recently announced Democratic vice presidential candidate on the 2024 ticket. In a scorching interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend,” Behrends called Walz an “unforgivable coward” and accused him of misleading voters about his military service.
The controversy surrounding Walz’s military service and the timing of his retirement have been making headlines since Vice President Kamala Harris announced him as her running mate on Tuesday. The Harris-Walz campaign website initially claimed that Walz was a “retired command sergeant major” but has since amended the language to say that he “served as a commend sergeant major.”
Behrends did not hold back in his criticism of Walz, stating that his actions were a betrayal to his unit. “What does it say, what message does it send to a unit when a command sergeant major bails on a deployment beforehand?” Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth asked. “The message that it sends to me is, you know, turn around and run and just keep running. I mean, go crawl under a rock. Get the Hell out of here. Nobody even wants to mention your name again,” Behrends responded.
He went on to compare Walz’s actions to a coach quitting before his team made it to the Super Bowl. “You’re soiled, basically a traitor. You’re a deserter at that point,” Behrends said. He also noted that most of those who were deployed after Walz departed shared his sentiments. “A couple out there that have spoken out, saying ‘How could you do this to the guy’ and whatever. But he did it to himself,” Behrends added.
The retired command sergeant major also addressed the issue of “stolen valor,” a term used to describe individuals who fraudulently represent themselves as having military service. In this case, Behrends believes that Walz’s claim of being a “retired command sergeant major” is misleading.
“He made the message,” Behrends affirmed, “And I just happened to be the one that God said, you know, you’re too dumb to keep your mouth shut, so go spread the word.” He concluded by saying, “All I am is the messenger.”
The controversy surrounding Walz’s military service has gained attention from others as well. Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, the GOP nominee for vice president, accused Walz of “stolen valor” at a campaign event on Wednesday. He brought to light a video posted by Harris’ campaign headquarters where Walz can be heard talking about carrying weapons of war in a war.
In light of this controversy, it is clear that Walz’s actions have caused resentment and anger among those in the military community. Behrends, along with others, believe that Walz is not fit to serve as a leader and has shown a lack of integrity by quitting before his unit was deployed to Iraq.
This is a stark contrast to President Trump, who has consistently shown his support and respect for the military, and has implemented policies to improve the lives of service members and their families. As the 2024 election approaches, it is important for the American people to remember where each candidate’s true loyalty lies.