On Thursday’s CNN This Morning, on the finish of a phase pondering whether or not President Trump may throw Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth below the bus, host Audie Cornish took issues in a really completely different route, whining about how, “He very a lot has utterly made good on his guarantees to concentrate on tradition battle points within the navy.” She additionally falsely claimed navy promotions have been now reserved for whites solely.
She started by enjoying a clip of Hegseth at Quantico proclaiming: “No extra id months, DEI workplaces, dudes in clothes,” no extra “fats troops,” “No extra beardos,” and including, “on the Division of Struggle, we do coaching, not trannies.”
Cornish lamented that whereas, traditionally, the navy was a frontrunner in our nation’s progress towards integration, Hegseth is now “going round saying, ‘Based mostly on your appears to be like, vibes, your id, you are out.”
That was not what Hegseth mentioned about race. He mentioned no id months and no DEI workplaces. However Cornish selected to misinterpret that as proof of one thing sinister. Stepping out of her position as host, she provided up this private testimony:
“I feel that is been very disturbing to see, definitely as a black American watching the historical past of the navy being whitewashed, when so many individuals locally really have been educated, mobilized, and got here up via the US navy. I do not assume I might have a look at this navy right this moment and have the ability to say the identical factor. I do not assume a Colin Powell rises on this navy, and that checklist will get even longer. I do know that is irrelevant, ‘trigger it is about extra, however to me, just like the generations which were set again on this are, is absolutely basic.”
Did Cornish perceive the implications of her accusation? She was saying one in every of two issues: both Powell was underqualified and rose solely due to affirmative motion, or that Hegseth is a flat-out racist.
Republican Mike Dubke selected to not choose that combat. He praised the navy’s file on integration, however did warn: “you possibly can’t overemphasize on one factor and create a non-equal focus.” Integration, in different phrases, shouldn’t be the identical factor as a DEI thumb on the size.
Hegseth talked grooming, health, and ending the id paperwork. Cornish heard: due to your id, you’re out, claiming that, because of this, Colin Powell would not have risen.
That was an unpleasant accusation that she did not assist, implicitly slurring Hegseth and/or disparaging Powell’s {qualifications} within the course of.
Cornish concluded the phase with a sarcastic swipe at Hegseth: “Nicely, we have definitely swung again, as a result of now there are not any beardos.” There was additionally recycling of a CNN graphic which confirmed extra white generals had been both fired or compelled out.
This is the transcript.
CNN This Morning
9/3/26
6:06 am EDTAUDIE CORNISH: Nicely, I do wanna add yet another factor. He very a lot has utterly made good on his guarantees to concentrate on tradition battle points within the navy. I simply wanna play a pair examples.
[Cuts to video]
PETE HEGSETH: No extra id months, DEI workplaces, dudes in clothes. [Transition] Frankly, it is tiring to look out at fight formations, or actually any formation, and see fats troops. [Transition] No extra beardos. [Transition] I’m authorizing a brand new screening program for testosterone deficiency. [Transition] And we’re restoring the warrior ethos inside our division as a result of that issues. [Transition] On the Division of Struggle, we do coaching, not trannies.
[Cuts back to live]
(…)
CORNISH: Additionally, the legacy of the US navy on this nation is one which ended up main on integration in some methods, proper? That ended up, there’s one thing about calling it a meritocracy after which going round saying, “Based mostly in your appears to be like, vibes, your id, you are out.”
And I feel that is been very disturbing to see, definitely as a black American watching the historical past of your, the navy being whitewashed, when so many individuals locally really have been educated, mobilized, and got here up via the U.S. navy.
I do not assume I might have a look at this navy right this moment and have the ability to say the identical factor. I do not assume a Colin Powell rises on this navy, and that, that checklist will get even longer. I do know that is irrelevant, ‘trigger it is about extra –
MIKE DUBKE: No, it isn’t apart from the purpose.
CORNISH – however to me, just like the generations which were set again on this are, is absolutely basic.
DUBKE: Nicely, we’re, we’re gonna speak in a, in a, in a minute, I feel, if we get to it, the best way the American folks view our establishments. And it’s telling that one of many establishments that really scores above virtually all of the others in the case of the federal government, is the navy, and there is in all probability some cause behind what you are saying for that.
However there’s additionally — that does not imply that you would be able to’t have, , you, you possibly can’t overemphasize on one factor and create a non-equal focus.
CORNISH: That is true. Nicely, we have definitely swung again, as a result of now there are not any beardos.
