JD Vance Mocks Tim Walz for Embroidering Military Record, CNN Reporter for Fact-Checking Joke

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, took aim at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's embellished military record and CNN reporter Alayna Treene for fact-checking his joke about it.

Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, has poked fun at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's controversial military record and a CNN reporter's attempt to fact-check his joke about it.

At a campaign rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Vance referenced Walz's upcoming address at the Democratic National Convention and his past claims of combat experience.

JD Vance Mocks Tim Walz for Embroidering Military Record, CNN Reporter for Fact-Checking Joke

"My little theory about why they decided to have the convention in Chicago is, you know, Tim Walz has been going around saying that he served in war, and maybe they did it in Chicago so that he could actually accurately say that he visited a combat zone," Vance remarked, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Vance's quip stemmed from a video shared by the Harris campaign in 2018, in which Walz declared, "We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at." CNN later fact-checked the video, stating that there was "no evidence" Walz carried weapons in combat.

JD Vance Mocks Tim Walz for Embroidering Military Record, CNN Reporter for Fact-Checking Joke

After the event, CNN reporter Alayna Treene took issue with Vance's joke, pointing out that the convention location had been chosen over a year ago.

"Vance in WI says his ‘little theory’ about why Democrats chose to host their convention in Chicago is ‘so that [Walz] could actually, accurately say that he went, he visited a combat zone.’ Democrats selected Chicago in April 2023 — long before Biden even considered dropping out," Treene wrote.

JD Vance Mocks Tim Walz for Embroidering Military Record, CNN Reporter for Fact-Checking Joke

Vance responded dismissively, tweeting "lmao."

Other social media users also mocked Treene’s post for taking Vance's joke too seriously.

"The journos are so dumb and broken they’re now fact-checking obvious jokes," wrote The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis.

"When you fact check a joke... it makes your entire ‘journalism’ career the joke. It also makes CNN the joke," remarked comedian Tim Young.

"All jokes must be fact-checked!" joked Wall Street Journal film critic Kyle Smith.

Vance continued his jabs at Walz during a rally with former President Trump in North Carolina.

"What won’t ‘Stolen Valor’ Tim Walz fib about? In fact, I believe in his next speech he’s probably going to say he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. I think that’s what Tim Walz is going to claim next time," Vance said.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Walz's military record has raised questions about his credibility and the potential impact on his vice presidential bid.