Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama on Monday doubled down on his comments on White nationalism, saying it was an "opinion" that White nationalists are racist.
During an interview on CNN's "The Source with Kaitlan Collins," Tuberville repeatedly defended his previous comments. When Collins stated the definition of a White nationalist is someone who believes that the White race is superior to other races, Tuberville said, "Well, that's some people's opinion."
When asked what his opinion was, Tuberville said, "My opinion of a White nationalist, if someone wants to call them White nationalist, to me is an American."
Speaking on an individual level, Tuberville added, "If people think a White nationalist is a racist, I agree with that."
Tuberville previously faced backlash regarding comments made originally in an interview with a local Alabama radio station when he was asked if he believes White nationalists should be allowed in the military and responded, "I call them Americans."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer -- who previously called on Tuberville to denounce White nationalism as "un-American" and stop his hold on military nominations -- slammed the Alabama Republican in floor remarks Tuesday over his comments on White nationalism.
"Last night, given another chance to clear the air, he suggested that, no, White nationalists aren't inherently racist. That yes, White nationalism is American. And that the definition of White nationalism is a matter of opinion," Schumer said. "It's hard to believe that the senator from Alabama has to be corrected again. The senator from Alabama is wrong, wrong, wrong. The definition of White nationalism is not a matter of opinion."
Tuberville told CNN Monday night that when lawmakers are in the minority party in the Senate, "the only power we have is to put a hold on something."
Asked by Collins whether he knows better than seven former defense secretaries who penned a letter in May arguing the hold was "harming military readiness and risks damaging US national security," Tuberville said: "They were nominated, they weren't elected. I was elected to represent the people of Alabama in this country."
"I'm a senator," Tuberville added, "I can hold any confirmation I want until we get some kind of confirmation of why you're doing this" from the White House and Pentagon.
Tuberville had told CNN's Manu Raju earlier Monday that he would not back off of his hold, saying he doesn't buy concerns about the impact on military readiness "whatsoever" and arguing "this is not a risk."
