US Army generals and the service's top enlisted soldier called out Fox News host Tucker Carlson on social media after he said President Joe Biden was making the US military "more feminine," calling it a "mockery of the US military."
On Monday, Biden marked International Women's Day by highlighting the achievements of two female generals, both of whom were chosen to lead four-star commands, and noting some of the work being done to make the armed forces more accommodating for female troops.
"We're making good progress designing body armor that fits women properly, tailoring combat uniforms for women, creating maternity flight suits, updating requirements for their hairstyles," said the president.
I want every child to know that this is what vice presidents and generals in the United States Armed Forces look like. pic.twitter.com/y2OFL1z29r
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 9, 2021
On his show, Carlson argued that Biden was feminizing the military while overlooking threats posed by China.
Tucker Carlson accuses Joe Biden of trying to feminize the military, argues China is ramping up it's military masculinity. pic.twitter.com/8lDKEPyws6
— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) March 10, 2021
"So we've got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits," Carlson said. "Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It's a mockery of the US military."
The well-known Fox News host further commented that "while China's military becomes more masculine as it's assembled the world's largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine, whatever feminine means anymore since men and women no longer exist."
"The bottom line is it's out of control, and the Pentagon is going along with this," he said. "Again, this is a mockery of the US military and its core mission, which is winning wars."
In the wake of Carlson's comments, several senior US Army officers spoke out against him.
Maj. Gen. Patrick Donahoe, the commanding general at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, posted the re-enlistment video for "one of the tens of thousands of women who serve in our Army," writing in the post that the video was "just a reminder that @TuckerCarlson couldn't be more wrong."
Lt. Gen. Ted Martin, the deputy commanding general of US Army Training and Doctrine Command, posted a photograph of his daughter, who is in the military, in a response to Carlson's comments.
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@16thSMApic.twitter.com/h98tpKXPJn
— LTG Ted Martin (@TradocDCG) March 10, 2021
Maj. Gen. John Evans, the Cadet Command commander, tweeted "Absolutely!" in response to Martin's post.
Writing that he agreed with Donahoe, Gen. Paul Funk II, the commanding general for TRADOC, said 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. We are fortunate they serve with us."
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the senior enlisted leader, wrote on Twitter that "@TuckerCarlson's words are divisive, don't reflect our values."
Women lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate ANY future battlefield we’re called to fight on. @TuckerCarlson’s words are divisive, don’t reflect our values. We have THE MOST professional, educated, agile, and strongest NCO Corps in the world. https://t.co/WeqWk6IWDq
— SMA Michael Grinston (@16thSMA) March 11, 2021
Fox News did not respond to Insider's request for comment on or clarification of Carlson's remarks.
Disclosure: This writer previously worked for the Daily Caller News Foundation, a non-profit news organization affiliated with Tucker Carlson.
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