Trump Nominee Struggles To Define 'White Culture'

Nominee's comments on 'white identity' and 'white culture' draw scrutiny during Senate hearing.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

During a Senate confirmation hearing, Donald Trump's State Department nominee Jeremy Carl faced intense questioning from Senator Chris Murphy about defining 'white culture' and 'white identity.' Carl's responses, which referenced 'Anglo-derived culture,' 'Scotch-Irish military culture,' and differences in 'white church,' 'food ways,' and 'music,' were criticized as struggling to articulate a coherent definition and instead revealing underlying racist beliefs.

Why it matters

The exchange highlighted the difficulty in defining and defending concepts of 'white culture' or 'white identity' without veering into racist stereotypes or sentiments. It also sparked broader discussions about the role of race, ethnicity, and cultural assimilation in American society.

The details

When pressed by Senator Murphy to define 'white identity' and how it differs from 'Black identity,' Carl initially cited 'Anglo-derived culture' and 'Scotch-Irish military culture,' before mentioning differences in 'white church,' 'food ways,' and 'music.' Murphy pushed back, noting Carl was retreating to ethnic identity rather than addressing 'white identity' directly. Carl then stated he was 'concerned with the majority of common American culture' that he believes has become 'more balkanized' through 'mass immigration,' drawing further criticism.

  • The Senate confirmation hearing took place on February 14, 2026.

The players

Jeremy Carl

Donald Trump's nominee for a State Department position who struggled to define 'white culture' and 'white identity' during the Senate hearing.

Senator Chris Murphy

A Democratic senator who firmly questioned Carl about his views on 'white culture' and 'white identity.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Senate is expected to continue questioning Carl about his views on race and culture as part of the confirmation process.

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the difficulty in defining and defending concepts of 'white culture' without veering into racist stereotypes, and underscores the ongoing national dialogue around issues of race, ethnicity, and cultural identity in America.