I served in the Army National Guard for four decades, enlisting as a private and retiring as a two-star major general. During my service, I deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Africa, and our southern border.
Honor. Integrity. Service. Those aren’t just words — they’re a way of life. When you wear the uniform of the United States military, there’s no room for deception.
The same should go for our elected officials, yet Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is deliberately misleading Georgia veterans, voters, and the press about a bill he had nothing to do with.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed the VA Home Loan Reform Act, which protects vets and their families from foreclosure. To recap the process, it was introduced in the House by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a retired Navy SEAL. There was no companion bill in the Senate — once it cleared the House, it was discharged by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and passed by unanimous consent.
In other words, Ossoff didn’t do a damn thing to get it to Trump’s desk. He didn’t reach out to Van Orden with an offer to help. He’s not on the Veterans Affairs Committee, so he didn’t have anything to do with it being discharged. And when it came to the Senate floor, he didn’t speak, offer amendments, or play any part in advancing it.
Ossoff wasn’t on the sidelines. He skipped the game entirely.
And yet, Ossoff hauled out a Senate podium, used Georgia veterans as props, and held a little press conference taking credit for someone else’s work. His office issued a press release and posted on social media that he “championed” the bill. He even called it “our bipartisan bill.”
Van Orden has called him out, and I’m doing the same.
Claiming credit for things he had nothing to do with is nothing new for Ossoff, be it a bill he didn’t write or co-sponsor, or results Georgia leaders have delivered to keep our state moving forward. Every time there’s a new jobs announcement, you’d think Ossoff was also the governor.
But taking this approach when it comes to our veterans isn’t just craven politics — it’s a stain on his Senate seat’s honor. Georgians need to know the truth: Ossoff is trying to pull a fast one to make himself look good for the men and women who’ve kept our country safe.
As someone who’s served, I take that personally. I’ve commanded thousands of Georgia’s sons and daughters and seen their sacrifice firsthand. Our state is home to numerous military installations and the best veterans community in the country.
They deserve the best, and the VA Home Loan Reform Act is a win for them. I’m glad Van Orden introduced it and led it through the House, and I’m glad the Senate swiftly got it to Trump’s desk.
WHEN BUREAUCRACY FAILS, VETERANS PAY THE PRICE
And while I’m also glad Ossoff didn’t stand in the way of this bill like he has many others, I won’t sit by while he uses a fellow veteran’s hard work and the challenges facing Georgia’s veterans as props for his own reelection campaign.
Ossoff should apologize to Georgia’s veterans for his deception — because they, more than anyone, deserve honesty. And a little more than a year from now, Georgia voters must elect a new senator who’s a workhorse, not a cheap showhorse.
Retired Maj. Gen. John King is Georgia’s insurance and safety fire commissioner. He previously served in the Army National Guard, enlisting as a private and retiring as a two-star major general.
