Washington – A retired American brigade general who failed to overcome the confirmation process in the Trump’s first administration received a scrutiny renewed by his positions of political and antiislamic social networks during an audience of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
Anthony Tata, a firm defender of President Donald Trump, has been nominated to become the Undersecretary of Personnel Defense. His nomination to be Undersecretary of Defense of Policy in 2020 He was stagnant When the senators canceled the audience after a rage on the comments he made about Islam and other inflammatory comments.
Tata was criticized by tweets in 2018 by calling Islam the “most oppressive violent religion I know”, and calling former President Barack Obama a “terrorist leader” and referring to him as Muslim. The tweets were demolished later.
“I do not appreciate your partisan tweets, their partisan statements,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Dn.H., during the audience on Tuesday, referring to the comments that Tata made in Fox News in 2020. “I do not appreciate it because I am a Democrat, you say that you would support Hamas or Hezbolá or Iran.”
Tata replied that “those were comments outside. I regret to have made those comments. Five years ago, I presented a letter of apology to this committee on those comments. I have 45 years of leadership -oriented leadership.”
He said that if he confirmed that he would focus on caring for the members of the service, their families and civilians from the department.
Tata would also be responsible for implementing and advising planned cuts from thousands of civil personnel and Recently orderly elimination from 10% to 20% of general official positions throughout the Army.
Senator Thom Tillis, Rn.C., spoke on behalf of Tata at the beginning of the audience, recognizing that there would be “some difficult questions about Tony’s previous comments.” But he said that Tata learns from his mistakes, “which is a testimony of a good leader.”
The Democrats interrogated Tata about whether would support the efforts of the Trump administration to purge the military leaders who do not like or do not believe they are loyal enough for the president.
“You requested a complete purge of the Pentagon leadership, including the dismissal of four -star officers and the civilian employees of your senior career,” said Senator Jack Reed, Dr.i. “This worries me that you have a wrong and partial vision of the military and civil workforce that you would supervise.”
Tata said that these comments were in response to a published report that said that higher generals and admirals were discussing “how to resist” Trump, adding that military leaders cannot choose which legal orders follow. Reed said the report specified that military officers were discussing what to do if Trump issued “illegal” orders, how to demand troops to carry out police duties in a city in the United States.
If it is confirmed that Tata would also be involved in the plans of the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to reduce diversity and equity programs, review military standards and prohibit the transgender men and women who serve.
He was asked if he would eliminate military leaders who he considers or politically wrong to carry out legal orders during a past administration. Tata said that he sees no reason why that would affect a promotion and, on the other hand, would base the decisions on merit.
Tata, who had been Fox News commentator, withdrew his name from consideration for Undersecretary work in August 2020, during the last months of Trump’s presidency. He was then designated by Trump To temporarily serve as Deputy Secretary for Defense Policy, without going through the hearing process.
