Pentagon Officials Blast Tucker Carlson’s Comments On Pregnant Women Serving In The Military

The Pentagon’s top spokesman and some military leaders are pushing back on comments that Tucker Carlson made about pregnant women serving in the military.

On his show on Wednesday, Carlson said in a segment that “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. While China’s military becomes more masculine, as it assembles the world’s largest navy, our military needs as Joe Biden says become more feminine….The bottom line is, it is out of control, and the Pentagon is going along with this.” In the segment, Carlson was trying to make the case that Biden was not taking the threat from China seriously.

More from Deadline

• New York Times Calls Out Tucker Carlson For "Calculated And Cruel" Segment Attacking Reporter

• 'Last Week Tonight': John Oliver Blasts Texas For Lifting Covid-19 Restrictions And Tucker Carlson's Dr. Seuss Rant

• Mike Pence To Narrate Rush Limbaugh Special For Fox Nation Streaming Service

But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday, “What we absolutely won’t do is take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military. 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.”

Military leaders also weighed in. Sergeant major of the Army Michael Grinston wrote on Twitter, “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.”

U.S. Space Command Senior Enlisted Leader Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker, in a video posted to Twitter, called Carlson’s comments “drama TV” and said, “I will remind everyone, which he has every right to, is based off of actually zero days in the armed forces.

Army Major General Patrick Donahoe wrote, “This is me, yesterday, conducting a re-enlistment for one of the tens of thousands of women who serve in our Army. Just a reminder that @TuckerCarlson couldnt be more wrong.”

A Fox News spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.

Best of Deadline

• U.S. Covid-19 Update: CDC Director Warns Case Declines May Be Leveling Off At "Still A Very High Number'

• Coronavirus: Movies That Have Halted Or Delayed Production Amid Outbreak

• Hong Kong Filmart Postponed Due To Coronavirus Fears; Event Moves Two Weeks Before Toronto

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.