Senator Tommy Tuberville told reporters that “white nationalists are racist” after a whirlwind daylong news cycle in which he had to answer for saying it was a “matter of opinion.”
Tuberville’s new comments came after he left a lunch meeting with all the GOP senators and headed for the ballots. Still, he insisted Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was the one to apologize — not him.
Previously, Tuberville had refused to say that white nationalists are racist, but insisted he himself was against racism.
“I am totally against racism. If the Democrats want to say that white nationalists are racists, I’m totally against that, too,” the Alabama Republican told reporters on Capitol Hill earlier Tuesday.
On Monday night, he got into a back-and-forth with CNN host Kaitlin Collins over the definition of the term. CNN brought up comments he made to a radio host in May.
“Do you think they should allow white nationalists into the military?” asked a radio host at the time.
“Well, that’s what they call them,” Tuberville replied. “I call them Americans.”
“Would you like to elaborate on those remarks, Senator?” Collins asked Tuberville Monday night.
Senator Tommy Tuberville insisted he is “totally against racism” after making eyebrow-raising remarks in which he appeared to say white nationalists are not racist
“Yes, first of all I am totally against any form of racism, okay?” replied the senator. “I have been a football coach for forty years. And I acted and had the opportunity to deal with more minorities than anyone here on this hill.”
“But to be clear, you agree that white nationalists should not serve in the United States military. Is that what you say?’ Collins pressed.
Tuberville said, “If people think a white nationalist is a racist, I agree. I agree that she…”
“—A white nationalist is someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races,” said the CNN host.
“Well, that’s some people’s opinion,” Tuberville said. “My opinion of a white nationalist—if anyone wants to call them that—is an American to me. It’s an American.’
“Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, I’m totally against anything they want to do because I’m 110% against racism.”
Tuberville continued, “If you want to ban most of the whites in this country from the military, we’re in huge trouble.”
“It’s not people who are white. They are white nationalists. You see the difference, don’t you?’ Collins said.
“They have different beliefs. If racism is one of those beliefs, I am totally against it. I am totally against racism,” the senator said.
Tuberville seemed to have a different understanding of white nationalism in May, a few days after the first radio interview when asked about the comments.
“I mean, what the hell is that? We all have different beliefs. You know I’m a Church of Christ, Catholics, we have different people. And we must all make one army,” he said at the time.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proclaimed Tuberville on the Senate floor on Tuesday. “The senator from Alabama is wrong, wrong, wrong,” Schumer said. ‘Definition of white nationalism is not a matter of opinion’
Schumer had called Tuberville to the Senate floor on Tuesday for demanding an apology.
“The senator from Alabama is wrong, wrong, wrong,” Schumer said. “The definition of white nationalism is not a matter of opinion.”
“It is indeed very, very dangerous that the senator from Alabama is glossing over the racist nature of white nationalism,” Schumer continued. “He’s fanning the flames of bigotry and intolerance.”
Other Republicans were pressured to reply to Tuberville’s comments.
“White supremacy and racism have absolutely no place in our country, period,” Katie Britt, fellow Republican senator from Alabama, told reporters.
Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., said he didn’t see the interview, but when asked if white nationalists are racists, he said, “If you’re a white nationalist, absolutely.”