Senator Tuberville defends white nationalists in military recruitment.

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said that people identified as "white extremists" and "white nationalists" should be allowed to serve in the US military, calling them "Americans." Tuberville's comments were criticized by many, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, which defines white nationalism as a belief in the alleged inferiority of non-whites. The Pentagon has been struggling with recruitment issues, but Tuberville and other Republicans blame the military's "extremist" training programs for the problem. Tuberville has also been accused of making racist remarks in the past and has stalled the Senate's ability to promote military officials over a Defense Department policy on abortion.