Obama education secretary excoriated for likening anti-maskers to Kabul suicide bombers in tweet

Secretary of education under President Obama, Arne Duncan, set social media ablaze on Sunday after he likened anti-maskers and those who oppose the COVID-19 vaccine to the radical Islamic suicide bombers who killed U.S. service members at the Kabul airport last week.

“Have you noticed how strikingly similar both the mindsets and actions between the suicide bombers at Kabul’s airport, and the anti-mask and anti-vax people here?” Duncan wrote on Twitter. “They both blow themselves up, inflict harm on those around them, and are convinced they are fighting for freedom.”

Duncan, one of former President Barack Obama’s longest-serving Cabinet officials, made the comment shortly before the bodies of 13 U.S. service members, who were killed in last week’s terrorist suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan, were received by the president and first lady at Dover Air Force Base on Sunday.

Duncan’s comments prompted a fierce reaction on social media, with critics noting the irony of his words just a day after he encouraged people to “treat each other with compassion.” – READ MORE