Retired Brig. General Anthony Tata, the top Pentagon Post pick for President Trump, opened fire at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday for past inflammatory remarks, including calling former President Barack Obama “a terrorist leader” and proposing former CIA director John Brennan.
Sen. Jack Reid, a top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called Tata’s political statement a record of “disqualification,” and said his rhetoric was “not appropriate for this position of importance.”
“I respect and appreciate your military service,” Reed said.
Tata said he regretted the comment and called it “from personality” after asking questions from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of Dn.H.
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Anthony Tata, President Donald Trump’s Pentagon officials and candidate for secretary for preparation, denied his past remarks. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I regret making these comments,” Tata said. “I have 45 years of solution-oriented leadership, but it was out of character. I regret it. I can guarantee that I will become a non-political leader.”
The retired Army General and former Trump administration official were appointed to the role of the Senate in 2020 for the role of the Senate, but in the final moments the Senate canceled his confirmation hearing on similar concerns. Trump later appointed him to a private advisory role without confirmation from the Senate.
Tata’s post-military career includes stint as a school district official, North Carolina Transportation Secretary, and author of a military thriller.
After calling Obama a terrorist in 2018, Tata later wrote to X that he was “joking,” and that he intended to criticize Obama for the Iranian deal.
“I was kidding! Of course, it’s not a conspiracy theory. He harmed Islamic countries more than any president in history and did more to help Islamic countries. Iranian deal alone is sufficient evidence of his willingness to overturn the US national interests into Islam and globalist agenda.”
“It may be time to choose your poison,” Tata responded to Brennan in X in a deleted post since then, accusing him of treason.
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses fired his deputy chief of staff, Darrin Selnick, who had fulfilled his duties as Secretary of Defense for staff and preparation. Selnick was one of three top aides fired after leaked investigations and fights between Leak and his former Chief of Staff.
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Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses fired his deputy chief of staff, Darrin Selnick, who had fulfilled his duties as Secretary of Defense for staff and preparation. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
The senator also pressed Tata on a more recent social media post, including a tweet that suggested military officers were engaged in “rebellious debates.” D-Ariz. Senator Mark Kelly of the company asked whether Tata values his loyalty to the Constitution or whether he value the administration’s political agenda.
“We’re all raising our right hand to support the Constitution,” replied Tata, but he defended Trump’s vision to avoid “necessary wars” and rebuild the army. He promised to keep his vows “even if it meant being fired.”
If confirmed as Defense Director for Personnel and Preparation, Tata will oversee military recruitment, education, healthcare and overall power preparation. He will also play a key role in implementing efforts supported by Trump’s allies to reduce the number of general executives and eliminate divisional diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Tata said he will push for improved military recruitment by expanding access to high school programs, building a “warrior spirit” and streamlining medical exemptions for disqualified candidates. He also pledged to advise the chain of command on “non-political and objective employment” and refused to support “blatant purges” of any kind.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) raised concerns about political pressure on military leaders, citing the recent exile of CQ Brown’s co-director. Tata argued that his approach was objective.
Senator Jack Reed will listen at Senator’s hearing on March 3, 2022 at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC (Tom Williamspool/Getty Images)
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In contrast, Katherine Sutton’s nomination for the role of technology in the Top Pentagon caused little opposition. Sutton, now Chief Technology Advisor at US Cyber Command, warned that China’s cyber threats will require emergency investment in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Sutton, after numerous reports on the use of secretaries in encrypted messaging applications, relating to whether she believes signaling and telesedging is permitted for work purposes at DOD. I was forced to do so.
“It depends on the level of classification,” Sutton said, adding that there are “various” apps used in DOD.
“Okay, I’m happy you answer the point of your story,” Slotkin said. “It’s a concern to me that when I get into this job, I can’t give him a straight ball and hit the answer.”
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