Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the critical role women play in combat and how Trump's choice of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would weaken the United States.
Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs in combat, said on CNN:
He is wrong because women have made us more effective. In fact, our military could not go to war without its 223,000 women serving in uniform.
We would have an ineffective military. A military that was not operational. If we pulled out all the women and said you can't fight for the women who have roles like infantry or naval seals. These women have met the same standards as the men to be appointed to these positions.
So this again shows that Mr. Hegseth is not qualified for the position because he doesn't understand it. Apparently, women are crucial even after their military service. Towards an effective military. And given the recruiting challenges we're facing right now, if we pulled out all of these women and said, “You can't go into combat,” we'd be saying we're facing a severe personnel crisis in the military.
Video:
Combat vet, Senator Tammy Duckworth, explains why Pete Hegseth is wrong about women in the military: “Our military couldn’t go to war without its 223,000 women who serve. We would have an ineffective military. Military that would not be operational.” pic.twitter.com/oRLXnuqvuE
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) November 24, 2024
Duckworth is right. The military is already in a recruiting crisis, and Hegseth's backwards and sexist ideas will only make things worse. Senator Duckworth sacrificed herself for our nation in Iraq, and when women like her are told they are not fit to fight, it is the ultimate insult.
Overall, Hegseth's views are an example of how Trump's dream is to return the country to a time when white men dominated the country. From deporting immigrants to destroying women's rights, the United States must fight antiquated notions of racism and sexism that many hoped were buried in the past.
Hegseth, the alleged sex offender, is exactly the wrong person to lead the military.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also White House press secretary and congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor's degree in political science. His thesis focused on public policy with an emphasis on social reform movements.
Awards and professional memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association
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