Accused ‘Racist’ GOP Rep. Mike Collins Questions Lloyd Austin’s Qualifications Amid Pete Hegseth Controversy
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) speaks before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 15, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Kevin Dietsch / Getty
Republican Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, who’s been called a “racist” for his words of support toward a group of fraternity brothers who made monkey noises at a Black college student, suggested in a new social media post that controversial Department of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth – a former Fox News host – was more qualified than current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the first Black person to serve in that role.
Collins posted his thoughts to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, just as scrutiny intensified over a fountain of allegations about Hegseth’s past splashed onto the front pages of news outlets across the country. In doing so, Collins also placed pressure on the U.S. Senate to confirm Hegseth, whose support from Republicans has become iffy in recent days.
It was in that context that Collins asked in his post: “In what world should Lloyd Austin get 93 votes for confirmation, and Hegseth not get 50.” He added: “Step up, Senate GOP.”
Collins’ post implied that Austin – a retired four-star general and the primary architect for both the U.S. military’s drawdown in Iraq as well as designing and executing the campaign that ultimately defeated ISIS – is less deserving of U.S. Senate confirmation to lead the Defense Department than Hegseth, a former weekend Fox News host who served briefly in Iraq in the U.S. Army.
Hegseth was also notably accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017 and having a drinking problem during his time at Fox News – allegations that have never been lobbed at Austin. Hegseth has denied the sexual assault but settled a lawsuit filed by the survivor and paid her in a nondisclosure agreement.
Hegseth has also faced credible allegations of financial mismanagement while working for Concerned Veterans of America.
Of course, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone even remotely familiar with Collins – whose past comments on the topic of race have sparked controversy – would want to elevate an unqualified white man over a qualified Black one.
Lest we forget it was only just a few short months ago when Collins praised white fraternity brothers at the University of Mississippi – also known as “Ole Miss” – shown on a viral video directing monkey noises at a Black student protesting the atrocities in Gaza.
In that instance, Collins reposted the video on X with the following message of support: “Ole Miss taking care of business.”
That prompted an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to “Expel Racist Rep. Mike Collins from Congress.”
That unfortunate display came a little more than a year after Collins tried to link DEI initiatives to a train derailment in Ohio. Collins disingenuously tried to blame President Joe Biden’s administration, which uncoincidentally happens to be the most diverse group of White House advisers in U.S. history.
“This administration’s focus on DEI is forcing private companies to rethink their goals, and one has to wonder, was Norfolk Southern’s DEI policies directing resources away from important things like greasing wheel bearings?” Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) asked during a House meeting in March 2023. “This insanity must stop!”
With that statement, Collins was seemingly implying that industrial transport company Norfolk Southern is so distracted by extending employment opportunities to Black and brown people that they just forgot to dedicate resources for basic train maintenance and safety—and that’s why the train derailed.
All of which establishes a pattern of Collins’ opinion of racial minorities, making it a no-brainer why he tried to question Austin’s undeniable qualifications to be Defense Secretary in an effort to elevate an unqualified white man for the position.
This is America.
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