Carlson, who is effectively the face of Fox and host of the main program on the right channel, ridiculed President Joe Biden on Tuesday for saying that the United States military had designed uniforms to properly serve women, created maternity overalls for pregnant women. and updated requirements for hairstyles.
“So, we have new hair styles and maternity flight coveralls,” Carlson snarled. “Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It is a mockery of the US military.”
Carlson’s comments provoked a strong reaction from some of the most senior members of the U.S. Army, who accessed Twitter on Wednesday and Thursday to denounce Carlson for what they described as damaging and divisive rhetoric.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shared the same “disgust” that many military leaders expressed about Carlson’s comments.
Kirby said the military still has “a lot of work to do” to become “more inclusive and respectful of everyone – especially women”.
“We promise to do better and we will,” said Kirby. “What we are absolutely not going to do is take personal advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military. Perhaps these people feel they have something to prove.
Kirby’s incisive comments came as several high-ranking military leaders criticized Carlson for his rhetoric.
“They are beacons of freedom and prove that Carlson is wrong through determination and dedication,” added Funk. “We are lucky that they serve with us.”
Lieutenant General Theodore D. Martin shared a photo of his daughter and said that “contrary to what you may be hearing” she and other women “are NOT” making fun of our military “.
“You WISH your daughter was as AMAZING as mine!” Martin added. “So, CHALLENGE YOURSELF.”
A Fox spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday morning.
Fox’s programming has become increasingly extreme in recent years and even more so after the November election, when it saw competition from smaller channels making an offer for its conservative audience.
The days when Fox called itself a “fair and balanced” news channel are gone. Most of the channel’s programming is now filled with right-wing comments.
Fox Corporation Chief Executive Lachlan Murdoch recently admitted that he sees the network’s role in the Biden years as “loyal opposition” to the White House.