Air Force Base Responds to Political Bias Claims Over Conservative Rally Warning

Base leadership corrects initial message, categorizing event as local political fundraiser, amid backlash from conservative figures.

The Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is defending itself from claims of political bias after an unofficial message cautioning airmen to not attend a conservative political rally began circulating on social media.
The message, which was re-posted to a public Facebook page and was purported to be from base leadership, described the group organizing the rally, Turning Point Action, as an 'alt-right organization' and suggested that participation could jeopardize service in the U.S. military.
The base responded that the initial message was based on incorrect data and sent outside of official base messaging platforms, and it subsequently corrected the message to categorize the event as a local political fundraiser.
Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, of North Dakota, and Turning Point Action founder Charlie Kirk denounced the message, with Cramer calling for a 'greater apology' and Kirk claiming that the Department of Defense has 'declared WAR on conservatives'.
The Department of Defense has recently drawn the ire of some conservatives over new Pentagon rules that allow reimbursement for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care.