A lieutenant colonel in the Space Force has been removed from his post — after he went on a podcast to claim that Marxism is invading the military, according to a report.
Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier was temporarily reassigned after going on a podcast and touting his book, “Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military,” according to military.com.
“This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast,” a Space Force spokesman told the outlet.
“Lt Gen. (Stephen) Whiting has initiated a command directed investigation on whether these comments constitute prohibited partisan political activity,” the statement said.
Lohmeier, commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, got into hot water after appearing on the conservative podcast “Information Operation” last week.
His book claims that a “neo-Marxist agenda” has infiltrated the military.
“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,” Lohmeier told podcast host L. Todd Wood, military.com reported.
He insisted that his book is not political, but rather a warning about the increased politicization of the armed forces — some of which he said he’s seen first-hand.
Lohmeier also took apparent issue with Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby — who he referred to only as “a Pentagon spokesperson” — claiming that Kirby had said “there are too many white pilots” in the Air Force and Space Force.
“If you want to provide that kind of messaging to your already-struggling pilot force, you can already expect to see further retention problems,” he said in the podcast.
Kirby denied making the comment in a statement Friday.
“This department has an open door to any qualified American who wants to serve,” he said. “Diversity throughout the force is a source of strength. We can’t afford to deprive ourselves of the talents and the voices of the full range of a nation that we defend.
But Lohmeier said he’s gotten thank-yous from other active-duty service members.
Lohmeier told military.com that he consulted with superiors, as well as legal and public affairs officials, about the book and was told he wasn’t required to submit it for security and pre-publication review.
“My intent never has been to engage in partisan politics,” he said. “I have written a book about a particular political ideology in the hope that our defense department might return to being politically non-partisan in the future as it has honorably throughout history.”