Top Military Leaders Who Advise President Trump Speak Out Against Racism
Four members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have taken to Twitter to rally against racism and intolerance in recent days.
The service chiefs of the U.S. Air Force, Naval Operations, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps have all tweeted that their branches of the military stand against racism and intolerance.
All four are among the group of seven senior uniformed leaders who advise President Trump on military issues.
The statements have all come since a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent, leaving one counterprotester dead. Two of the statements came after Trump defended some of the marchers at the rally at a much-criticized press conference on Tuesday.
Adm. John Richardson, the Chief of Naval Operations, tweeted on Sunday that the Navy “forever stands against intolerance and hatred.”
Events in Charlottesville unacceptable & musnt be tolerated @USNavy forever stands against intolerance & hatred...https://t.co/tg0cETibaq
— Adm. John Richardson (@CNORichardson) August 13, 2017
Gen. Mark A. Milley, of the U.S. Army, tweeted on Monday that racism and extremism is “against our values and everything we’ve stood for since 1775.”
The Army doesn't tolerate racism, extremism, or hatred in our ranks. It's against our Values and everything we've stood for since 1775.
— GEN Mark A. Milley (@ArmyChiefStaff) August 16, 2017
Gen. Robert B. Neller of the Marine Corps then said on Tuesday that there is “no place for racial hatred or extremism in @USMC [the Marine Corps].”
No place for racial hatred or extremism in @USMC. Our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment frame the way Marines live and act.
— Robert B. Neller (@GenRobertNeller) August 15, 2017
Gen. Dave Goldfein, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, was the latest to tweet saying that he stands with his fellow service chiefs.
I stand with my fellow service chiefs in saying we're always stronger together-it's who we are as #Airmen pic.twitter.com/9XxOry93nf
— Gen. Dave Goldfein (@GenDaveGoldfein) August 16, 2017