Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) called out CNN‘s fact-checker Daniel Dale during an appearance on the network this week at the Republican National Convention. Dale, in an earlier appearance, claimed that Waltz had lied during his speech when the Congressman accused Joe Biden of trying to convert U.S. military tanks to battery power.
“I do want to talk about Daniel Dale, the CNN lead fact-checker who directly got on air last night and spoke to my speech where I talked about Biden’s military and his misguided priorities,” the Congressman said during the broadcast. Adding context, the CNN anchor responded, “There was a CNN fact check of your speech. You mentioned at one point—and I want to get this right—you said that Biden was focused on building electric tanks.”
The CNN host noted that the electric tank claim comes from a U.S. Army climate strategy document—however, he insisted that Dale was correct and that the document only discussed making nontactical vehicles battery-powered. At this point, Rep. Waltz came with the receipts, citing numerous reports and testimony proving his assertion.
“Let me fact check your fact-checker,” the Florida Congressman said. He continued: “I have here Bloomberg reporting U.S. Army putting its electric tanks on hold because they have to further invest in and develop the battery technology. I have testimony with the Secretary of the Army on this issue. I have the budget where they’re investing in research and development on electric fighting vehicles in addition to the nontactical vehicles mentioned in that climate strategy.”
“So I would just suggest that Daniel Dale sit down with the chairman of the Readiness Committee who reviews and approves these budgets and has the testimony and has the actual facts before he questions someone’s credibility on national television,” Waltz concluded.
WATCH:
CNN “fact checker” @ddale8 should actually CHECK HIS FACTs before going on live national television after my RNC speech and questioning my credibility about Biden‘s electric tanks! pic.twitter.com/mPx9Sm4RiZ
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) July 19, 2024