Trump's Pick for Top State Department Post Stumbles on 'Erasure of White Culture'

Jeremy Carl, nominated for Assistant Secretary of State, struggles to defend his controversial views on race and identity during Senate confirmation hearing.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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President Donald Trump's pick for a top State Department post, Jeremy Carl, sputtered through his Senate confirmation hearing when challenged by a senator who characterized him as a 'legit white nationalist'. Carl, a senior fellow at the conservative Claremont Institute, has made incendiary statements about Jews, women, race and the 'great replacement theory'. During the hearing, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) pressed Carl to explain his beliefs about the 'erasure of white culture', leading to an embarrassing, fumbling response from the nominee.

Why it matters

Carl's nomination has raised concerns about the Trump administration's embrace of white nationalist rhetoric and beliefs. His struggle to defend his views on race and identity during the confirmation hearing highlights the controversial nature of his beliefs and the potential implications of his appointment to a senior State Department role.

The details

During the hearing, Sen. Murphy asked Carl to define 'white identity' and explain what he believes is being 'erased' about white culture. Carl struggled to provide a coherent response, referencing 'Anglo-derived culture', 'Scotch-Irish military culture', and differences in 'white church', 'food ways', and 'music' compared to other cultures. When pressed further, Carl claimed he was concerned about the 'Balkanization' of 'majority common-American culture' due to mass immigration, refusing to apologize for his views.

  • The Senate confirmation hearing took place on February 12, 2026.

The players

Jeremy Carl

President Donald Trump's nominee for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. Carl is a senior fellow at the conservative Claremont Institute who has made controversial statements about race, religion, and identity.

Sen. Chris Murphy

A Democratic senator from Connecticut who challenged Carl during the confirmation hearing, characterizing him as a 'legit white nationalist'.

Sen. John Curtis

A Republican senator from Utah who announced he would not support Carl's nomination, citing Carl's 'anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people'.

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What they’re saying

“Trump nominated a legit white nationalist to a top post at the State Department. I asked him some basic questions about his belief in the 'erasure of white culture'. Watch this embarrassing, fumbling answer. Like he has never before been asked to explain his views.”

— Sen. Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator (Twitter)

“After reviewing his record and participating in today's hearing, I do not believe that Jeremy Carl is the right person to represent our nation's best interests in international forums, and I find his anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people unbecoming of the position for which he has been nominated.”

— Sen. John Curtis, U.S. Senator (Statement)

What’s next

The Senate will continue to review Carl's nomination and determine whether to confirm him for the Assistant Secretary of State position.

The takeaway

The nomination of Jeremy Carl, who has espoused white nationalist views, to a senior State Department role raises concerns about the Trump administration's embrace of extremist rhetoric and beliefs. Carl's struggle to defend his controversial positions during the confirmation hearing highlights the divisive nature of his views and the potential implications of his appointment to a position of international diplomacy.