Hours After Trump Vows Never To Rename Army Bases, GOP-Led Senate Committee Pushes Forward

TOPLINE

Mere hours after President Trump declared that his administration “will not even consider the renaming” army bases named after confederate generals, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee reportedly voted Wednesday to approve an amendment that will require the Pentagon to rename military assets named after Confederate generals within three years.

KEY FACTS

Key Background:

The approval of the amendment will lead to a tense showdown in Washington. According to Roll Call, “the effective veto threat sets up a standoff with Capitol Hill, with House Democrats likely to advance similar provisions in that chamber’s defense authorization, especially after the Senate committee action.” Support for the removal of Confederate flags and monuments has swelled amid a national reckoning over race following the death of George Floyd. On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the removal of 11 Confederate statues from the halls of Congress. On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy announced it is working on an order forbidding the display of the Confederate flag, less than a week after the Marine Corps issued a similar directive.

Chief Critic:

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said Thursday he continues to oppose renaming military bases named after Confederate generals. “I opposed this amendment, spoke against it, and voted no in the committee. Congress should not be mandating renaming of our bases and military installations,” Hawley tweeted Thursday morning.

Tangent:

Back in 2017, following a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, led by white supremacists protesting the planned removal of a statue of Confederate commander Robert E. Lee, President Trump lamented the loss of such statues and monuments. In a series of tweets, Trump said it was “sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments.” On Wednesday, in response to an Army spokesperson confirming that the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army were considering renaming the service’s 10 bases and facilities named after Confederate leaders, Trump again reiterated his views and declared he was unwilling to budge. “These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,” said Trump. Thursday morning, he tweeted, “THOSE THAT DENY THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT!”

Further Reading:

Trump ‘Will Not Even Consider’ Renaming Army Bases Named After Confederate Generals (Forbes) 

Senate Armed Services on collision course with Trump over Confederate names (Roll Call) 

Nancy Pelosi Calls For Immediate Removal Of Confederate Statues From Halls Of Congress (Forbes)