Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee, is under heavy scrutiny regarding his service with the National Guard. 

According to the New York Post, Walz is now being questioned about reported "multiple" trips to China while he was serving as a Guardsman.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) "is demanding answers from the Pentagon about the "obvious security risk" Democratic vice presidential pick Tim Walz posed to the US," the outlet reported.

Banks raised the concerns in a blunt letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin this week.

What's going on?

Banks held nothing back as he questioned Walz's trips to China, especially given the fact that during that time he was probably privy to a fair amount of U.S. classified information.

"Any individual traveling dozens of times to an adversary nation in a personal capacity while having access to classified information poses an obvious security risk," Banks' letter read.

The Indiana Republican suggested that due to his frequent trips to China while serving in the military that he might have broken certain rules that required him to declare his trips.

"I am therefore concerned that Governor Walz may have failed to comply with foreign travel reporting requirements during these trips to China, despite his duty as a security clearance holder to protect our national security," Banks' letter continued.

I’m demanding answers on Tim Walz’s many personal trips to China during his time in the National Guard. pic.twitter.com/HVUiYqaJwt

— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) August 16, 2024

The Post noted:

US service members are always ordered to report on such trips, but “especially” so when dealing with an adversarial nation, according to Banks, and often are “required to complete debriefing questionnaires” upon their return to note “any potentially suspicious interaction that occurred.”

Social media reacts

Users across social media were stunned to learn of Walz's frequent trips to China at that time, and many suggested it should disqualify him from running.

"This is a really good question. Did he hold any security clearance at the time? If he did, did he report his foreign travel? Who did he meet with, and why did China give him 'so many gifts that he couldn't carry all of them?'" one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "I wondered about that. When I was in the military I wasn't allowed to travel to China b/c of my security clearance. How was Walz allowed to go there 32 times?"

Only time will tell if Austin answers Banks' questions.