Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

US military chiefs: no room for racists and bigots in the services

Leadership.

The chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and National Guard have put out statements condemning racism and other forms of hatred in response to Charlottesville.

Adm. John Richardson, the Navy chief, kicked it off with a tweet Saturday night:

The rest of the service branch chiefs followed suit a few days later, each issuing his own message to the branch he oversees.

The comments stand in stark contrast to President Trump’s remarks Tuesday during a press conference in which he said that the white supremacists and those protesting against them were both to blame for the violence.

“What about the fact that [the counterprotesters] came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem?” Trump said. “You had a group on one side that was bad. You had a group on the other side that was also very violent.”

Unlike Trump, the service chiefs were unequivocal in their condemnation of racism and bigotry, emphasizing that such ideas have no place in today’s US military. Here are the other service chiefs’ tweets, in the order in which they were published:

Gen. Robert Neller, Marine Corps

Gen. Mark Milley, Army

Gen. Dave Goldfein, Air Force

Gen. Joseph Lengyel, National Guard

Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
Podcasts
Did Trump actually help Venezuela?Did Trump actually help Venezuela?
Podcast
Podcasts

Post-Maduro, some Venezuelans are feeling cautiously optimistic.

By Ariana Aspuru and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
5 ways the Iran standoff could end5 ways the Iran standoff could end
Politics

Is the US on the verge of a deal with Iran or a return to war?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Ukraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might thinkUkraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might think
Politics

The war in Iran looked like a gift for Russia. It hasn’t worked out that way.

By Joshua Keating
The Logoff
Why Trump says the US-Iran war is overWhy Trump says the US-Iran war is over
The Logoff

Trump’s plan to evade an Iran deadline, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters