The calls were made by Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, who criticized Brown's support of diversity initiatives. Austin, however, stood firm in his support for Brown, stating, “I think it’s important that young officers, young soldiers, young sergeants, be able to see themselves in our senior leadership.” He further praised Brown as “one of the most competent officers I’ve ever worked with.”
As reported by Breitbart, the interview was part of the Wednesday’s broadcast of “NBC Nightly News.” During the interview, NBC News National Security and Pentagon Correspondent Courtney Kube questioned Austin about his reaction to Hegseth's statement. She asked, “Your likely successor has also said recently, the U.S. has to fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs because of his support of diversity initiatives. How would Captain Lloyd Austin have felt about a statement like that out of the incoming secretary of defense?”
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In response, Austin expressed his concern and reiterated his belief in the importance of diversity in leadership. He said, “Captain Lloyd Austin would be very concerned. Courtney, I think it’s important that young officers, young soldiers, young sergeants, be able to see themselves in our senior leadership. This is the third time that I’ve served with Gen. Brown directly. He’s one of the most competent officers I’ve ever worked with.”
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While the debate over diversity initiatives continues, Austin's defense of Gen. Brown underscores the ongoing tension between traditional military values and the push for more inclusive representation in the armed forces. His remarks serve as a reminder of the importance of leadership that reflects the diverse makeup of those they lead, a principle that seems to be at odds with the views of the incoming secretary of defense nominee.
