Fox News host Tucker Carlson is under heavy fire from senior members of the US military after the right-wing pundit delivered a sexist segment in which he mocked women serving in the armed forces.
Carlson, who never served in the military, ridiculed President Joe Biden Tuesday for saying that the US military had created uniforms to fit women properly, created maternity flight suits for those who are pregnant, and updated requirements for hairstyles.
“So we’ve got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits,” Carlson snarked. “Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It’s a mockery of the U.S. Military.”
Carlson then touted China’s massive building of naval warships, which take many years to design and build.
“Last year, we learned that China has quickly developed the world’s largest naval force. In 2015, China had 255 battleships. Now they have more than 360, and many of those ships are more capable than anything in the American naval fleet. So how are we responding to this? Well, at the White House yesterday, Joe Biden addressed it effectively. What’s the American military’s response?” Carlson said, mocking the President.
Carlson’s remarks sparked a furious backlash from some of the most senior members of the US military who have openly called him out for harmful rhetoric.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shared the same “revulsion” that many military leaders have expressed about the sexist comments that Carlson made.
“The Secretary certainly shares the revulsion of so many others to what Mr. Carlson said,” Kirby told reporters Thursday.
Other prominent military figures also weighed in on Twitter.
“Women lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate ANY future battlefield we’re called to fight on,” tweeted the Sergeant Major of the Army, Michael A. Grinston. “@TuckerCarlson’s words are divisive, don’t reflect our values. We have THE MOST professional, educated, agile, and strongest NCO Corps in the world.”
General Paul Funk, who as head of Army Training and Doctrine Command sets policy and guides future changes for troops, tweeted that “thousands of women serve honorably every day around the globe.”
“They are beacons of freedom and they prove Carlson wrong through determination and dedication,” Funk added. “We are fortunate they serve with us.”
Major General Patrick Donahoe posted a video of him “conducting a re-enlistment for one of the tens of thousands of women who serve in our Army.”
“Just a reminder that @TuckerCarlson couldn’t be more wrong,” Donahoe said. Fort Hood Deputy Commanding General John B. Richardson IV tweeted, “Mothers in uniform fight & win our nation’s wars. Fathers in uniform fight & win our nation’s wars. Soldier is not a gendered noun.”
Lieutenant General Theodore D. Martin shared a photo of his daughter and said that “contrary to what you may be hearing” she and other women “are NOT” making “a mockery of our military.”
“You WISH your daughter was as AWESOME as MINE!” Martin added. “So BACK OFF.”
Check other reactions below:
I maintained aircraft until I went into labor, and had several supervisors who did the same before me. I have more masculinity in my left ovary than @TuckerCarlson could ever hope to have, or pass on.
— Celena Spears (@CelenaMSpears) March 10, 2021
Contrary to what you may be hearing this 🇺🇸WOMAN & 1000's of 🇺🇸WOMEN like her are NOT "making a mockery of our military". You WISH your daughter was as AWESOME as MINE! so BACK OFF. #ARMY #Navy #USMC #USAF @16thSMA pic.twitter.com/h98tpKXPJn
— LTG Ted Martin (@TradocDCG) March 10, 2021
Hey @TuckerCarlson come say that to my face little man…
From a FEMALE Army veteran pic.twitter.com/up9swJTcSu
— Lib Lady Army Veteran😷🌊🇺🇸 (@Individual1isa1) March 11, 2021
Dear @TuckerCarlson and @FoxNews, I'm a woman who has served in the U.S. military for over a decade. I've deployed three times to combat zones, and have been pregnant once while in uniform.
Please explain to me how my existence is a "mockery" of the U.S. military. https://t.co/kkXW0dqNBR
— Lethality Jane (@LethalityJane) March 10, 2021
Gates of Hell, sir. No shit.
— Mike Lavigne (@broadcastmike) March 11, 2021
@TuckerCarlson Unlike you, I served in the Army for 20 years including in combat alongside incredibly brave and courageous sisters.
Our Armed Forces are the most capable force in the world BECAUSE of the selfless service, sacrifice and professionalism of our women in uniform.— Jim Gill (@jimmygill) March 11, 2021
3am fence guard shift at the Capitol.
Is this the "mockery" you speak of @TuckerCarlson ?
Just trying to make sure I understand the line between being part of the Nation's defense and part of the feminization of the military. pic.twitter.com/CcTvA3wBmQ
— Silver Beaty 🇺🇲 (@SilverBeaty) March 10, 2021
I met Laura Richardson when she was a LT in Korea. She was married to my CO…and pregnant. She went on to lead an assault helicopter battalion in Iraq and now SOUTHCOM. She’s done more for our nation than @TuckerCarlson will ever possibly accomplish. https://t.co/1Imc8de09p
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) March 11, 2021
Here is a pic of my Army wife & I after a 5K near Ft Hood. I am the top overall male finisher, she is the top overall female finisher. She was also the overall top finisher & beat me by over a minute and a half. Side note: she was 12 weeks pregnant with our daughter. #soHooah pic.twitter.com/LQyisePoAZ
— CSM Rocky L. Carr (@SDDCCSM) March 11, 2021
Tucker Carlson is saying that our military isn't masculine enough. pic.twitter.com/7cU9zep3ph
— JRehling (@JRehling) March 11, 2021
