A Space Force commander has been removed from his post after blasting diversity and inclusion training in the military as 'critical race theory rooted in Marxism'.
Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier appeared on a podcast to promote his new self published book when he made the comments which led to a 'loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead', according to a statement from the Space Force.
A spokesperson told The Military Times: 'This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast.
'Lt. Gen. Whiting has initiated a Command Directed Investigation on whether these comments constituted prohibited partisan political activity.'
They added to The Washington Examiner: 'Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead.'
Members of the military are allowed to express their personal opinions when not in uniform but are prohibited from 'partisan political activity'.
Critical race theory claims to highlight how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today.
Those who are against it say people are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist and that it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color.
The issue has become one of the frontline skirmishes in the country's culture wars in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests.
Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier has been removed from his post after blasting diversity and inclusion training in the military as 'critical race theory rooted in Marxism'
Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier appeared on a podcast to promote his new self published book, pictured, when he made the comments which led to a 'loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead', according to a statement from the Space Force
Lohmeier, a former fighter pilot, had been the commander of 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base Colorado.
In November last year he received a Thanksgiving call from President Donald Trump after joining the Space Force the previous month.
Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, the head of Space Operations Command, is understood have removed him from that role Friday.
It is not clear what temporary role Lohmeier will fill during the investigation or if he could face any consequences beyond being removed from his command post. DailyMail.com has contacted the Space Force for additional comment.
Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, pictured, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead', the Space Force said
Lohmeier had said of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's diversity and inclusion program: 'I don't demonize the man, but I want to make it clear to both him and every service member this agenda — it will divide us. It will not unify us.'
Austin in February ordered military leaders to spend time talking to their troops about extremism in the ranks.
Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said then that while extremism has been a problem in the military in the past, the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead, was a 'wake-up call' for military leaders. He said that Austin wants to get a better handle on the breadth of the problem.
Lohmeier added: 'The diversity, inclusion and equity industry and the trainings we are receiving in the military...is rooted in critical race theory, which is rooted in Marxism.'
'Since taking command as a commander about 10 months ago, I saw what I consider fundamentally incompatible and competing narratives of what America was, is and should be.
'That wasn't just prolific in social media, or throughout the country during this past year, but it was spreading throughout the United States military. And I had recognized those narratives as being Marxist in nature.'
He then described the the New York Times 1619 Project as 'anti-American', adding: 'It teaches intensive teaching that I heard at my base - that at the time the country ratified the United States Constitution, it codified white supremacy as the law of the land.
'If you want to disagree with that, then you start (being) labeled all manner of things including racist.'
His book Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military looks at the 'impact of a neo-Marxist agenda' on American security.
Lohmeier said he had discussed the book with his superiors.
He told The Washington Examiner: 'What you see happening in the U.S. military at the moment is that if you're a conservative, then you're lumped into a group of people who are labeled extremists, if you're willing to voice your views.
'And if you're aligned with the Left, then it's OK to be an activist online because no one's gonna hold you accountable.'
In an email to The Military Times he added: 'My intent never has been to engage in partisan politics.
'I have written a book about a particular political ideology (Marxism) in the hope that our Defense Department might return to being politically non-partisan in the future as it has honorably done throughout history.'
He said active service members have written to thank him for his comments 'because we don't have a voice anymore'.
Members of the military are allowed to express their personal opinions when not in uniform but are prohibited from 'partisan political activity'
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