In response to Senator Tommy Tuberville once again objecting to key military promotions and nominations on the Senate floor as MAGA Republicans continue to support his blockade, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“For nine months, Tommy Tuberville has continued his reckless blockade of military promotions because he knows he has Donald Trump and 2024 MAGA Republicans backing up this extreme, anti-abortion crusade that harms our military readiness. While Tuberville blocks military promotions to push the same anti-choice extremism that Americans have rejected at the ballot box time and time again, Donald Trump has cheered his shameful political stunt every step of the way. Voters won’t soon forget that, given the choice between stripping away Americans’ freedoms and prioritizing our troops, Trump and his MAGA allies have decided to double down on their unpopular, anti-abortion agenda.”

NEW: Tommy Tuberville once again objected to military nominations and promotions on the Senate floor last night, defying even opposition from members of his own party. 

The Hill: “GOP senators clash with Tuberville over military nominees late into night”

“Tempers flared on the floor as Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) attempted for the second time in two weeks to move a batch of stalled military nominees through the Senate only to be met with objections from Tuberville and his ally, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).”

Manu Raju, CNN: “GOP Sens Sullivan, Ernst, Graham and Young went through night and tried to confirm military nominees stalled by Tommy Tuberville’s holds. But Tuberville, joined by Mike Lee, kept objecting. The senators began their effort around 12:15A and wrapped around 3:45A.”

Trump and other 2024 Republicans STILL support Tuberville’s blockade and are prioritizing their anti-abortion extremism over our national security.

AL.com: “Former President Donald Trump praised Tuberville over the votes on Truth Social: ‘BIG WIN FOR TOMMY. Unlike McConnell and his group of automatic Democrat YES VOTES, Tommy T is willing to take on the Radical Left Fascists & Thugs that are destroying our Country. What a difference!’”

Politico: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backed Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s months-long blockade on military nominations on Thursday, saying that the Pentagon’s abortion policy would ‘go out the window’ if he wins the presidency. … Military leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have blasted Tuberville, saying that the hold harms national security and military readiness.”

HuffPost: “GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley took aim at the Defense Department for beginning a policy at the center of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) hold on 300-plus military promotions in the Senate.”

Washington Examiner: “Vivek Ramaswamy becomes latest GOP presidential candidate to back Tuberville military hold”

DeSantis and Ramaswamy have doubled down on their defense of Tuberville in recent weeks.

Florida Politics: “Ron DeSantis backs Tommy Tuberville in ongoing skirmish with Senate”

Mika Brzezinski: “Do you think that Senator Tuberville should lift the blockade that he’s put on military promotions?”

DeSantis: “No.”

Ramaswamy: “On a broader set of grounds, it’s justified, where we have people put in charge of our military in positions of authority that are fundamentally ill-equipped to lead this nation forward.”

Tuberville is still blocking key nominations and promotions as the U.S. looks to move quickly to support our ally and provide humanitarian aid for thousands of innocent lives caught in the crossfire. 

Politico: “Sen. Tommy Tuberville is not relenting from his monthslong blockade of military nominations over the Biden administration’s abortion policy — even in the face of one of America’s closest allies going to war.

“After Hamas attacked Israel, Senate Democrats said it was past time for several top-level military nominees to be approved. But a Tuberville spokesperson confirmed Sunday that the senator’s position remains: Democrats must move top nominees individually until the Pentagon revokes its policy of covering travel costs for troops seeking an abortion across state lines.”

Pentagon officials recently slammed Tuberville for his blockade in the wake of a top Marine’s hospitalization.

Politico: “‘This is outrageous’: Pentagon officials furious over Tuberville holds after top Marine hospitalized”

“Pentagon officials have been frustrated for months over an Alabama senator’s blockade of more than 300 senior military nominations. But after the Marine Corps chief was hospitalized over the weekend, that frustration is turning into rage.”

Senior DOD official: “This is outrageous. … I cannot help but think … that Tuberville’s unnecessary stress that he’s put on the situation where you don’t have a backup … has added a level of complexity and danger to an already bad situation.”
Politico: “25 officers have had their retirements deferred due to the hold, including five who have had to do it twice.”