Pentagon, military leaders slam Tucker Carlson for comments about female soldiers

Senior military leaders are rebuking Fox News host Tucker Carlson for comments he made this week regarding the uniforms that have been approved for women serving in the military.

On Tuesday, Carlson took jabs at some recent changes made to military uniforms on his prime-time show “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” On Monday, President Joe Biden made several announcements in relation to America’s military forces, including that he had just nominated two women as generals. Both women would become only the second and third to fulfill those roles. Biden also said there would be some changes to aesthetic and uniform requirements for the armed forces.

The president noted that some work would be done to retain female recruits, including “designing body armor that fits women properly, tailoring combat uniforms for women, creating maternity flight suits [and] updating requirements for their hairstyles.”

Carlson ridiculed the remarks on his Tuesday night program.

“So, we’ve got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits. Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It’s a mockery of the U.S. military,” he said. The longtime television journalist also made a comparison between the American military and Chinese military.

“China’s military becomes more masculine … our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine.”

His snarky review of Biden’s announcement was sorely received by several military leaders, with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaking to reporters, according to Politico, about the implications of Carlson’s criticism.

“We still have a lot of work to do to make our military more inclusive, more respectful of everyone, especially women.

“But what we absolutely won’t do is take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military,” Kirby said. “Now maybe those folks feel like they have something to prove. That’s on them. We know we’re the greatest military in the world today, and even for all the things we need to improve, we know exactly why that’s so.”

Gen. Paul E. Funk II, who heads Training and Doctrine Command, tweeted Wednesday that “women serve honorably every day around the globe. They are beacons of freedom and they prove Carlson wrong through determination and dedication.”

Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker, the top enlisted leader at U.S. Space Command, released a video message on Thursday denouncing “drama TV.” He encouraged people to “remember that those opinions were made by an individual who has never served a day in his life.”

Several people on Twitter agreed with the military leaders.

His comments also conjured women and mothers who are serving in the military to share their stories. An Army JAG officer and military professor Heather Tregle shared her story about serving with two children in tow.

“I’ve had 2 children while serving in the Army, deployed to 2 combat zones, advised commanders at home & in war, and graduated from the Naval War College. I can assure you, my presence does not make a mockery of the military. If you’re looking for a mockery, look in the mirror.”