(NewsNation) — Former Minnesota Governor and WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura is all-in on the Harris-Walz ticket because of a “selfish reason” — he wants to see a deserving woman take the White House in his lifetime, he tells “Dan Abrams Live.”
“I don’t want to die and not see a woman president, and I think this is the opportunity for one to get the job,” Ventura said. “I think it’s highly long overdue.”
He pointed out that in American history, women, especially women of color, were one of the last demographics given the right to vote. Ventura added that it’s time for a female leader in the United States: “Us men have screwed it up enough, haven’t we?”
The actor clarified that his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is based on shared values as well.
He told Abrams he aligns with the Democratic ticket’s views on abortion and the U.S. Constitution, citing former President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 involvement as a major problem with the GOP nominee.
As one of Walz’s predecessors, Ventura also defended the vice presidential nominee from attacks over his alleged “stolen valor,” voiced primarily by Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee.
Ventura said these “shameful” slams violate a well-known rule among vets.
“You don’t criticize anybody about their service. If they were honorably discharged, they did the job they were asked to do,” he said. “Tim Walz enlisted at 17 years of age into the National Guard, served 24 years, and they’re complaining that he didn’t deploy with his unit to Iraq.”
