During the final minutes of his show, The 11th Hour, MSNBC host Brian Williams tore into Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz for his criticism of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley.
Williams said:
"Republicans, as you know, have decided we're in a crisis of some sort where our military is both soft and woke, and our kids are being taught dangerous things like White rage and critical race theory."
"When asked about the curriculum at West Point, Milley made clear he wasn't having it."
General Milley was indeed quite clear about his position on the issue.
"First of all, on the issue of critical race theory, a lot of us have to get smarter on whatever the theory is, but I do think it's important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open minded and be widely read."
"And the United States military academy is a university, and it is important that we train and we understand."
"I want to understand White rage—and I'm White."
"So what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America?
"What caused that? "
"I want to find that out."
"I want to maintain an open mind here and I do want to analyze it."
"It's important that we understand that."
Gaetz later tweeted a response mocking the combat veteran.
With Generals like this it\u2019s no wonder we\u2019ve fought considerably more wars than we\u2019ve won.https://twitter.com/jackposobiec/status/1407767776715026436\u00a0\u2026— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1624476064
In response to Gaetz's tweet, Williams said on 11th Hour:
"Easy enough to lob a comment like that from the cheap seats."
"To be fair, Gaetz—the same Matt Gaetz who faces potential sex trafficking charges, which he denies—did also tweet today to free Britney Spears, which kind of makes him a freedom fighter."
Brian Williams smoked Gaetz4trolling combat vet Gen. Milley over his thoughts about CRT: \u201cTo be fair Gaetz, the same Matt Gaetz who faces potential sex trafficking charges,which he denies,did also tweet2free Britney Spears,which kinda makes him a freedom fighter.\u201d#11thHourShadepic.twitter.com/u77M5TtLMB— 11thHourShade (@11thHourShade) 1624508928
You can see video here:
Tonight's #LastThingBeforeWeGo? GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz seems to have met his match squaring off in a debate with Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\n\nWatch more: https://on.msnbc.com/3wYxHXe\u00a0\n\n#11thHourpic.twitter.com/6h9Y6BGZHb— 11th Hour (@11th Hour) 1624510361
Twitter users were not impressed with Gaetz's rhetoric, but they loved Williams' reply.
Brian Williams is the master of deadpan shade.— Samjm (@Samjm) 1624548515
How\u2019s your day @mattgaetz ???\nThank you Brian Williams. https://twitter.com/wutangkids/status/1408056385150111746\u00a0\u2026— Michael Kelly (@Michael Kelly) 1624567610
Williams was far from the only one dunking on Gaetz, though.
Retired General Mark Hertling also fired a salvo at the Florida Republican.
General Hertling tweeted:
"Hey, [Matt Gaetz], see those stripes on Gen. Milley's right sleeve?"
"Each one represents 6 months in combat."
"[Defense Secretary Lloyd] Austin has more, but they aren't on his suit."
"You really want to do this?"
Hey, @mattgaetz, see those stripes on Gen Milley\u2019s right sleeve? Each one represents 6 months in combat. SecDef Austin has more, but they aren\u2019t on his suit. You really want to do this?https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1407780765421740032\u00a0\u2026— Mark Hertling (@Mark Hertling) 1624484986
No, officers don\u2019t wear service stripes. Enlisted do, on the left sleeve, and they\u2019re slanted.— Mark Hertling (@Mark Hertling) 1624499456
That's all I could look at when he was talking and thought: "Gaetz does not deserve the right to even speak to this man."\n\nThat's a lot of hash marks.— Papa#1 (@Papa#1) 1624486819
The GQP is pandering to the white mob \u2018militia\u2019 that they support. These are the pretend soldiers that hide at home and play with their guns.— That other guy (@That other guy) 1624503993
My heart goes out to you. Thank you for your sacrifices, as well as your child's. Hang in there. Gaetz is repugnant.— Ann Ladenberger (@Ann Ladenberger) 1624511814
Gaetz showed himself to have the maturity of an entitled middle school bully today, which explains a lot about that FBI investigation.— Writer of Wrongs \ud83d\udcd6\ud83d\udd8a (@Writer of Wrongs \ud83d\udcd6\ud83d\udd8a) 1624508948
The guy who\u2019s spent years getting his daddy to make his DUIs disappear and paying child sex traffickers to get laid has some thoughts about how to run the military.— Brian Tyler Cohen (@Brian Tyler Cohen) 1624489865
Matt Gaetz is someone I wouldn't mind Patton slapping.— Tim Adell (@Tim Adell) 1624495664
Just stopped by to make a joke about you and underaged girls, but I see that everyone else already has that covered. Carry on.— Centrism Fan Acct \ud83d\udd39 (@Centrism Fan Acct \ud83d\udd39) 1624495553
Says the only congressman to vote against child sex trafficking laws.— Cousin Greg's Benign Fungus (@Cousin Greg's Benign Fungus) 1624480336
Plenty of people have been dunking on Gaetz's rhetoric and hot takes.
Maybe Matt should stop while he's behind?
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