Sen. Tommy Tuberville Did Himself No Favors When CNN Segment Devolved Into Debate About White Nationalists

Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville did himself no favors Monday during his appearance on CNN after the conversation devolved into a debate about white nationalists.

Collins brought up a recent radio hit during which Tuberville was asked whether white nationalists should be allowed to serve. “Do you believe they should allow white nationalists in the military?” the radio host asked, to which Tuberville replied, “Well, they call them that. I call them Americans.”

“Do you want to explain those comments, Senator?” Collins asked Monday night. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson Reacts To Being Called A White Supremacist)

“Yeah, first of all, I’m totally against any time of racism, okay? I was a football coach for 40 years. And I dealt and had the opportunity to be around more minorities than anybody up here on this field. But when our military has been attacked, was being attacked after January 6th, and that was my first day on the Senate floor, I thought it was outrageous what senators from the Democratic side, Chuck Schumer said on the floor that night, calling out people, calling people racists, nationalists, white nationalists. It is another word they want to use other than racism. I’m totally against anything to do with racism,” Tuberville said.

“The thing about being a white nationalist is just a cover word for the Democrats now where they can use to it to try to make people mad across the country, identity politics. I’m totally against that. I’m for the American people. I’m for the military. I’m for Christian conservatives, Democrats, whoever wants to be in the military to fight for this country, to protect this country. That’s what it is all about,” he continued.

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“Just to be clear, you agree that white nationalists should not be serving in the U.S. military. Is that what you’re saying?” Collins pressed.

“If people think a white nationalist is a racist, I would agree,” Tuberville said.

“A white nationalist is someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races,” Collins said.

“Well, that’s some people’s opinion.”

“That’s not opinion,” Collins said. “What is your opinion?”

“My opinion of a white nationalist, if someone wants to call them a white nationalist, it is an American. Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, I’m totally against anything that they want to do. Because I am 110% against racism. I want someone in our military that is strong, that believes in this country. That’s an American that will fight along anybody, a man or woman, black or white, red, it doesn’t make any difference. So I’m totally against identity politics. I think it is ruining this country and I think the Democrats ought to be ashamed for how they’re doing this. It is dividing this country weaker every day.”

“You said a white nationalist is an American. But a white nationalist is someone who believes horrific things. Do you really think that’s someone who should be serving in the military?” Collins pressed.

“Well, that’s just a name that’s been given,” Tuberville said.

“It is a real definition. There are real concerns about extremism.”

Tuberville then said it would be a real “problem” to get white people out of the military, prompting Collins to ask if he understands the difference between a white person and a white nationalist.

“It’s not people who are white. It is white nationalists. You see the distinction, right?”

“That have different beliefs. If racism is one of those beliefs, I’m totally against racism,” the senator pushed back.

“But that is a white nationalist. A white nationalist is racist.”

“That’s your opinion. If it’s racism, I am totally against it. I am against any time of racism,” Tuberville said before the interview ended.