Trump Pentagon personnel pick regrets calling ex-President Obama a terrorist

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s pick to oversee the Pentagon’s personnel policies said he regrets past comments that sank his earlier nomination to another role, including tweets in which he called Mr Barack Obama a “terrorist leader” and called Islam the “most oppressive violent religion I know of.” 

Retired Army Brigadier-General Anthony Tata told the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 6 that those comments, as well as saying former CIA Director John Brennan deserved to be executed, “were out of character.” 

“I regret making those comments,” Mr Tata said in response to questions from Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

He said he submitted a letter of apology to the panel five years ago amid his failed nomination to a separate high-profile Defence Department position during Mr Trump’s first term. 

Mr Tata’s second nomination will likely be more successful given Mr Trump’s tighter grip on Republicans this time around.

The Senate has approved similarly controversial nominees, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel, on slim margins thanks to Republican control of the chamber. 

“He takes responsibility for his words and actions,” said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican. “It’s a testament of a good leader.”

If confirmed, Mr Tata would be responsible for policies that impact the more than 3 million Pentagon personnel and their families, including compensation, health services and schools. 

In response to questions over recent moves to pull books from Defence Department schools, part of the broader sweep by the Trump administration to eradicate anything related to diversity efforts, Mr Tata said he would ensure that students “have access to a wide variety of materials that inform their learning.”

On reports that “To Kill a Mockingbird” was removed among the purge, Mr Tata called the book a “classic” that he read in high school and said that he would not ban it.

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the committee, said Mr Tata remained unqualified because of his history of “controversial and divisive statements.” 

Mr Reed and fellow Democrat Elizabeth Warren also criticised Mr Tata calling for a purge of Pentagon leadership – including four-star general officers and senior career civilian employees – after Mr Trump’s election win in November.

On May 5, Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to

slash 20 per cent of four-star positions

in the active-duty military and 20 per cent of all general officers in the National Guard, followed by a further reduction by at least 10 per cent of all generals and admirals. 

Mr Tata said in several responses to questions that he expects Pentagon leadership to “follow the Constitution” and obey legal orders of the president, regardless if they’re controversial or unpopular. 

“Controversial orders may be lawful,” he said. “No uniformed officer has the right to supersede the commander in chief’s authority of a lawful order.” BLOOMBERG