'Destructive spectacle': Chuck Schumer admonishes Tommy Tuberville’s defense of white nationalists

United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) condemned Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) for remarks that he made earlier in the week that elevated white nationalists and other extremist supporters of former President Donald Trump.

"I call them Americans," Tuberville said during an interview with Birmingham's National Public Radio affiliate station WBHM on Monday. Tuberville, who has repeatedly obstructed military promotions over abortion, also alleged that Democrats have a vendetta against the Armed Forces.

"We are losing in the military so fast," Tuberville asserted. "And why? I can tell you why. Because the Democrats are attacking our military, saying we need to get out the white extremists, the white nationalists, people that don’t believe in our agenda, as Joe Biden's agenda."

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Schumer responded on Thursday.

"Does Senator Tuberville honestly believe that our military is stronger with white nationalists in its ranks? I cannot believe this needs to be said, but white nationalism has no place in our armed forces and no place in any corner of American society, period, full stop, end of story," said Schumer, per The Guardian.

"I urge Senator Tuberville to think about the destructive spectacle he is creating in the Senate," Schumer added. "His actions are dangerous."

Schumer was in good company. The Guardiannoted that White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge also blasted Tuberville's comments.

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It is "abhorrent that Senator Tuberville would argue that white nationalists should be allowed to serve in the military, while he also threatens our national security by holding all pending DoD military and civilian nominations," Hodge said. "Extremist behavior has no place in our military. None."

Similarly, WHBM fact-checked Tuberville's claims, explaining that the Pentagon works diligently "to keep extremists, particularly fascists, out of the military."

The outlet further pointed out that, despite what Tuberville has maintained, "The US military is not requiring that C[ritical] R[ace] T[heory] be taught and there is little evidence that it's being discussed much at all in the ranks. According to Military Times, the one instance in which it is being used in an educational setting is at the US Military Academy at West Point."

READ MORE: How GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville is 'harming America’s national security': Defense Secretary Austin

The Guardian's report continues at this link.