WASHINGTON — Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s refusal to denounce white nationalism in a recent interview immediately sparked outrage from members of Congress and social media users.
Tuberville sparred with CNN host Kaitlin Collins on her Monday show ,after she brought up his previous comments on an Alabama radio station in which he called white nationalists Americans when asked whether they should serve in the military.
After Collins explained that a white nationalist believes their race is superior to others, Tuberville said “that’s some people’s opinion” and defended his prior remarks. Tuberville retracted his comments to reporters Tuesday, saying “white nationalists are racists."
But the Alabama lawmaker's comments still drew quick backlash. Stephen King, best-selling horror author, tweeted to his 7.1 million followers that Tuberville “gives new meaning to the word idiot.”
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., told ABC News that he wasn't sure what Tuberville was trying to say in the conversation with Collins, but he clarified that the Republican party doesn't accept white nationalism.
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“I would just say there's no place for white nationalism in our party and I think that's kind of full stop,” Thune said, before Tuberville appeared to change his stance to reporters on Tuesday.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speaks during the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade on Commodity Programs, Credit and Crop Insurance hearing at Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 2, 2023,
His comments also prompted sharp criticism from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY., who said on the Senate floor that “white nationalism has no place in our armed forces and no place in any corner of American society.”
“Senator Tuberville needs to do two things: he needs to come out and state clearly and unequivocally that white nationalism is un-American, and he needs to drop his destructive holds on hundreds of our senior military leaders,” Schumer said. “This farce is endangering our national security, putting the lives of men and women who have served our country for decades in real trouble, and it needs to end.”
From sports columnist Mike Freeman:Tommy Tuberville is no longer just a football coach. Now, he's a danger to the country.
Tuberville has held up more than 200 military promotions for senior military jobs that require Senate confirmation, arguing that some Department of Defense policies on abortion violate federal law.