I was talking with my wife about this phenomenon a few days ago--to some degree, I don't think he's lying. I think he probably thinks he's telling the truth. It's a function of mental capacity.On top of him being a truck driver.
Dude's had more jobs than a Vietnam SEAL poser down at the local VFW.
Many politicians have said many false things over the years. Blumenthal and Vietnam. Hilary Clinton and "landing under sniper fire" in Bosnia. Former VA Secretary McDonald about being in 5th Group. President Biden and... well, just about every vignette he has shared recently seems to be false.
At any rate, in the moment sometimes people inadvertently say things that are not true, and sometimes it's unintentional. That doesn't excuse the behavior, it's just something that happens.
A few years ago, I had a similar experience. I was in our front yard on post watching the Christmas parade go by. The parade consists mainly of West Point cadets, active duty, and vets. Someone on a float that went past saw the 160th sticker on the back of my Jeep, pointed at it and then at me, and shouted "What battalion?" "THIRD!!" I shouted back.
Now here's the thing: I was never in 3/160. I was in 2/160. I never had any desire to be in 3rd Batt, and now that I think about it, I don't think I was in 3rd Battalion of anything the entire 27+ years I was in the Army. 3/160 was never the "cool guy" battalion in the 160th, that was 1st Battalion. If anything, at the time I was in it I would say 2nd was the cooler battalion, because of a special mission 2nd Batt had that 3rd Batt didn't. So yeah, I don't know why I told some rando--with a great deal of pride and confidence--that I was in a unit I was never in.
Another interesting component of this story was that I didn't even realize I did it until the parade passed and my wife asked me "Why did you tell that guy you were in 3/160?" (she was Army and SOF as well, and knew the difference). She didn't correct me at the time both because she knew it would have embarrassed me enormously "No he wasn't!! HE WAS IN SECOND BATTALION!! STOP LYING!!" ;) but also because she thought it might have been some OPSEC thing and I didn't want people to know what unit I was really in.
Good lookin' out, thanks honey.
But no, it was inadvertent. And inconsequential. As soon as she told me what I said, I was like, "Oh yeah, I totally did just do that." I don't know why, just a temporary twist in the brain. And I think that is what happens to some of these politicians.
Again, that doesn't excuse the behavior, and if it happens frequently enough (looking at you, Mr. President), maybe it's time to turn over the burden of leadership to someone whose brain still works the way it is supposed to.