Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has endorsed Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 presidential election.
“I’ve only got a few elections to go. I’m 73 years old now, so the window’s closing. I want to be alive to see the first woman President of the United States of America and the first woman commander-in-chief, and we’ve got her right now,” Ventura said.
“It’s time for a woman President. We men have screwed it up enough,” he added.
WATCH:
🤯 Fmr. Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura Endorses Kamala Harris for President
“I want to be alive to see the first woman President of the United States of America…It’s time for a woman President. We men have screwed it up enough.” pic.twitter.com/NuxpLHidiA
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) August 10, 2024
Ventura’s endorsement of Harris follows him nearly becoming independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate.
Mediaite reports:
Jesse Ventura endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election just moments after saying he came in “second” place as the choice for Robert F. Kennedy’s running mate.
Ventura, a former wrestler and governor of Minnesota, joined CNN’s Laura Coates on Friday night and said he’s being “selfish” with his vote for Harris over “friend” Kennedy Jr.
“I met with Bobby Kennedy last winter. We met for three hours. Apparently, I came in second. He chose his woman [Nicole] Shanahan as running mate. Bobby’s still a friend of mine, but I’ll tell you where I stand right now. I’m going to be selfish,” Ventura told Coates.
He added that he wants to be able to see the first woman elected president just like he got to see the first Black man, former President Barack Obama, get elected.
Ventura’s endorsement of Harris shouldn’t come as a huge surprise considering he previously endorsed Tim Walz for governor.
WATCH:
In case you missed it: Jesse Ventura endorsed Tampon Tim Walz for governor in 2022.
Well, at least Hulk Hogan has aged well. pic.twitter.com/0bciuOdMv5
— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@WojPawelczyk) August 10, 2024
“What an honor! Thrilled to be endorsed by @GovJVentura. I’m committed to being a governor for all Minnesotans, and I’ll work with anyone who’s willing to work with me to get things done. Thank you, Jesse, for taking the unprecedented step to cast your independent vote for me!” Walz responded.
What an honor! Thrilled to be endorsed by @GovJVentura.
I’m committed to being a governor for all Minnesotans, and I’ll work with anyone who’s willing to work with me to get things done.
Thank you, Jesse, for taking the unprecedented step to cast your independent vote for me! pic.twitter.com/QABgPjFNX9
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) October 27, 2022
Per CBS News:
Former pro wrestler and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has endorsed Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for reelection, saying democracy is “under attack” and praising Walz’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventura, who considers himself an independent and was elected governor as a part of the Reform Party, said in a video posted to Walz’s Twitter account that he rarely makes endorsements.
According to the National Governors Association, Ventura “served in the Navy for six years – four on active duty, two in the Naval Reserves – and he is a Vietnam veteran.”
Ventura criticized J.D. Vance for questioning Walz’s military service amid the Minnesota governor’s ‘stolen valor’ accusations.
“I think Vance is doing a disservice to the United States Marine Corps because I know a lot of great Marines and Marines show respect,” Ventura said on MSNBC, according to The Hill.
“That’s the one thing you get out of a Marine is respect and Vance ought to look in the mirror and behave like a Marine,” he added.
Ventura called Vance’s comments “despicable.”
From The Hill:
Walz, who was named Vice President Harris’s running mate earlier this week, has been attacked for leaving the military before his unit was deployed, though men who served under him have said his decision came before they received the deployment orders.
Vance went after Walz’s record this week.
“I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?” Vance said on the campaign trail in Michigan. “He has not spent a day in a combat zone … I’d be ashamed if I was him and lied about my military service like he did.”
Ventura, a former professional wrestler who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, shut down the retirement accusation from Vance, saying anyone can “retire when you want to” after serving for 20 years.
In a statement to The Hill, Vance’s spokesperson Luke Schroeder said Walz has been “caught red handed lying about going to war.”
“To make matters worse, after a week of nonstop lies from the Kamala Harris campaign claiming otherwise, a commend sergeant major senior to Walz has now confirmed he knew he was being sent to Iraq months before he decided to abandon his men so he could run for Congress,” Schroeder said. “There’s nothing more insulting to veterans who do answer the call to serve in a combat zone than those who engage in stolen valor to benefit their own political career.”
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
