The Republican congressman from Florida, who is also an Army Special Forces veteran in Afghanistan, told RedState he was proud that President Donald J. Trump selected Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, also a veteran of the Global War on Terror, as his 2024 vice presidential running mate at the Republican National Convention being held here July 15-18.
“I’m very happy to have a veteran on the ballot, for him and for all the Marines out there,” said Rep. Michael Waltz, who also served as a senior national security official in the White House under Trump. “I don’t believe you have to be a veteran to be a good elected leader, but rather someone who is willing to die for this country at a very young age and understands leadership, followership, discipline and teamwork.”
Congratulations to @JDVance1 to support President Trump in the fight to put America first!
Senator Vance is an excellent choice – a proud veteran and a champion of the American working class!
A powerful team ready for the large win in November! 🇺🇸👊🏻#TrumpVance24 pic.twitter.com/VEnSV720AJ
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) July 15, 2024
Vance served as a photojournalist and public relations noncommissioned officer in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007, including deployments to Iraq.
The Virginia Military Institute graduate said Vance brings an critical perspective on national security and defense, particularly the work of Republicans to restore America’s credibility on the world stage.
“I think having JD in the vice president’s office,” he said. “The vice president is often the last person to speak to the president before a major national security decision is made. I think that’s going to be incredibly important.”
Waltz said one of the most damaging blows to America’s credibility was President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s handling of the overthrow of our allies’ governments in Afghanistan and our withdrawal from Kabul.
“They had the worst and most shameful debacle in American history – I think it was even worse than in Saigon with the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and no one was held accountable,” he said. “The Pentagon must be held accountable.”
The American native of Boynton Beach, Florida, said that as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he is leading efforts to bring the Pentagon to heel, including over its irresponsible handling of public funds and irresponsible decision-making.
“Everything there costs twice as much, construction takes twice as long and the soldier receives only half as much as he should,” he explained.
“At one of my hearings, I held up a bag of nuts – literally like bolts and nuts that cost a hundred dollars at a hardware store,” said the author of Warrior Diplomat: The Battles of a Green Beret from Washington to Afghanistan he said. “They were approved for every aircraft we fly, but to put them on a Department of Defense aircraft, they cost $90,000, a hundred-dollar bag of bolts – $90,000 that the Department of Defense is paying for,” he said.
“I think it’s just a perfect example of bureaucracy getting out of control,” he also said. “Enough is enough. Let’s hold them accountable. That’s what I do every week in the Armed Services Committee when it comes to the accountability of this administration.”
Waltz said the Defense Department is not only wasting money but also setting its priorities wrong, such as cutting key special forces personnel and sending away the best-trained soldiers.
“I’m blocking and fighting some of the cuts to our special forces,” he said. “You can’t just mass produce someone with those skills when you need them – I think that’s incredibly short-sighted.”
