CNN's Jim Acosta Corrects Harris Surrogate over JD Vance's Military Record

CNN's Jim Acosta was forced to correct Sen. Tina Smith, a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, after she erroneously stated that Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance had no record of military service.

CNN's Jim Acosta was forced to correct a top Harris surrogate who suggested GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance never served in the military on Wednesday. 

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who is working to help Vice President Kamala Harris defeat the GOP ticket, appeared on CNN and responded to Sen. JD Vance’s recent claim that Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is misleading the country about his veteran status. Vance famously enlisted in the Marines and served in Iraq long before entering politics, but that was news to Smith. 

CNN's Jim Acosta Corrects Harris Surrogate over JD Vance's Military Record

"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 told CNN viewers. 

Acosta, who was a key Trump antagonist when he served as CNN’s White House reporter, didn’t immediately jump in but corrected Smith before she finished her next sentence. 

CNN's Jim Acosta Corrects Harris Surrogate over JD Vance's Military Record

"He was in the Marines," Acosta said. 

Smith responded, "OK, pardon me for that," before quickly moving on. 

CNN's Jim Acosta Corrects Harris Surrogate over JD Vance's Military Record

On Wednesday, Vance, who served as a corporal in the public affairs section of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, accused Walz of dodging his military service. 

"As a Marine who served his country in uniform when the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it," Vance said. 

"I did what they asked me to do, and I did it honorably," Vance added. "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he's been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with."

Smith's erroneous claim about Vance's military service highlighted the need for accuracy in political discourse, especially during election season. Acosta's prompt correction helped ensure that viewers had access to accurate information.

In addition to his military service, Vance is a bestselling author and venture capitalist. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and served as a clerk for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and his America First agenda.

Smith is a former Minnesota state senator and lieutenant governor. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018 to replace Al Franken. She is a member of the Democratic Party and serves on the Senate committees on Armed Services and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The upcoming vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz is expected to focus on a range of issues, including foreign policy, national security, and the economy. Acosta's correction of Smith's erroneous claim about Vance's military service underscored the importance of factual accuracy in political discourse, especially during election season.