CNN
—
Republican Sen. Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville on Monday doubled down on his comments on White nationalism, saying it’s an “opinion” that White nationalists are racist.
During an interview on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” Tuberville repeatedly defended her past comments. When Collins stated that the definition of a White nationalist is someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races, Tuberville said, “Well, that’s some people’s opinion.”
When asked what his opinion was, Tuberville said, “My opinion of a White nationalist, if someone wants to call them a White nationalist, to me is an American.”
Speaking on an individual level, Tuberville added, “If people think that a White nationalist is a racist, I agree with that.”
Tuberville previously faced backlash over comments originally made in an interview with a local Alabama radio station when he was asked if he believed White nationalists should be allowed into the military and responded, “I call them Americans.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – who previously called on Tuberville to denounce White nationalism as “un-American” and end his stranglehold on military nominations – criticized the Alabama Republican in comments on the floor on Tuesday over his comments. of White nationalism.
“Last night, given another chance to clear the air, he suggested that, no, White nationalists are not inherently racist. That yes, White nationalism is American. And that the definition of White nationalism is a matter of opinion, “said Schumer. “It’s hard to believe that the senator from Alabama needs to be corrected again. The senator from Alabama is wrong, wrong, wrong. The definition of White nationalism is not a matter of opinion.
Tuberville told CNN Monday night that when lawmakers are in the minority party in the Senate, “the only power we have is to prevent something.”
Asked by Collins if he knew better than the seven former secretaries of defense who wrote in May arguing that the holdup would “undermine military readiness and risk harming U.S. national security,” Tuberville said: ” They were nominated, they were not elected. I was elected to represent the people of Alabama in this country.
“I’m a senator,” Tuberville added, “I can withhold any confirmation I want until we get some kind of confirmation as to why you’re doing this” from the White House and the Pentagon.
Tuberville told CNN’s Manu Raju earlier Monday that he won’t back down from his hold, saying he doesn’t buy into concerns about the impact on military readiness “anything” and arguing that “it’s not a risk.”