'Bizarre' and 'totally irresponsible': Biden nudges Republicans to quell Tuberville’s military post blockade

13 July 2023

President Joe Biden on Thursday called upon Republicans to rein in United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), who has defended white nationalists and blocked hundreds of normally routine military appointments because servicemembers seeking abortions receive paid days off and reimbursements for related expenses.

The topic was broached by a reporter during a press conference at Finnish President Sauli Niinistö's residence in Helsinki.

"I could also ask you something about happening back home. You're seeing the GOP grappling with tying abortion rights to defense issues, including a block on military promotions by Senator Tuberville. What does this say about US military readiness, and would you be willing to talk with Tuberville to try to work out some solution?" the correspondent inquired.

"I'd be willing to talk to him if I thought there's any possibility of him changing his ridiculous position he has," Biden replied. "He's jeopardizing US security by what he's doing. I expect the Republican Party to stand up, stand up and do something about it. They, it's within their power to do that. The idea that we don't have a chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; the idea that we have all these, all these promotions, that are in abeyance right now, we don't know what's gonna happen. The idea that we're injecting into fundamental foreign policy decisions, what in fact is a domestic social debate on social issues is bizarre. I don't ever recall that happening, ever. And it's just totally irresponsible in my view. And, I just think that, I mean, I'm confident that the mainstream Republican Party no longer, does not support what he's doing, but they gotta stand up and be counted. That's how it ends."

Watch the exchange below via CSPAN or at this link.

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