WASHINGTON — Mark E. Green, President Trump’s second nominee to be secretary of the Army, withdrew from consideration on Friday, saying in a statement that his nomination had become a distraction because of “false and misleading attacks against me.”

Mr. Green, a Tennessee state senator who was an Army flight surgeon, has criticized federal attempts to bar discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender people in workplaces and businesses.

“Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain,” Mr. Green said in the statement. “While these false attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the president the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world.”

Mr. Trump’s first pick for Army secretary, Vincent Viola, pulled out of consideration in February, saying he could not disentangle himself from his business ties. Mr. Viola is the owner of the N.H.L.’s Florida Panthers.</s>(CNN)President Donald Trump’s choice for Army secretary announced Friday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration.

“It is with deep regret today I am withdrawing my nomination to be the Secretary of the Army,” Green said in a statement.

On Tuesday, CNN reported that the nomination was in serious jeopardy, and he could be withdrawing as soon as this week, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The decision by Green, Trump’s second pick for the post, came after his nomination ran into trouble following a backlash after past controversial statements on LGBT issues, Islam and evolution were revealed.

Both the White House and Pentagon had told reporters earlier Friday there was nothing to announce regarding Green’s nomination.

Green, a retired Army flight surgeon and West Point grad, was tapped in early April as Trump’s pick after billionaire Vincent Viola withdrew over issues related to divesting from his financial holdings.

Philip Bilden, Trump’s pick to be Navy secretary, also withdrew because he was not able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics’ requirements for divestment without “undue disruption” of his assets.

Green, currently a state senator in Tennessee, faced rising opposition from LGBT activists and Democrats for his past comments about transgender people.

In 2016, Green told a tea party group, “if you poll the psychiatrists, they’re going to tell you that transgender is a disease.” In 2013, Green blasted President Barack Obama for supporting what he said were “‘transvestites in uniform.”

Green, who is a former Army doctor, is also a self-identified “creationist” who has delivered a lecture arguing against the theory of evolution.

Green had defended himself from criticism in a Facebook post last week, writing that the “liberal left has cut and spliced my words about terrorism and ISIS, blatantly falsifying what I’ve said.”

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain have also expressed concern over Green’s past comments.</s>After growing criticism from leading Democrats, civil rights advocates and even some members of his own party, President Trump's pick for Army Secretary, Mark Green, has withdrawn his name from consideration.

"Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," Green said in a statement sent to NBC News. "While these false attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the President the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world."

Green had previously offended both the LGBTQ community and Muslims with a number of comments and policy positions seen as offensive and discriminatory -- including comparing transgender people to ISIS militants.

"A man who was the lead sponsor of legislation to make it easier for businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ community; opposes gay marriage, which is the law of the land; believes being transgender is a 'disease'; supports constricting access to legal contraception; and makes deeply troubling comments about Muslims is the wrong choice to lead America's Army," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement earlier this week.

Schumer was just the latest in a string of politicians and civil rights advocates speaking out against Green, a Republican State Senator of Tennessee and a retired Army flight surgeon.

Just hours before Green announced his resignation, combat veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat of Illinois, released a statement opposing Green.

"Confirming someone with Dr. Green's attitudes towards Muslim, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Americans would send the wrong message to brave and selfless Americans who simply wish to serve their nation," Duckworth said. "I am grateful for Dr. Green's record of service but if he doesn't appreciate the importance of a diverse, inclusive Army, then he is not fit to lead it."

And it wasn't just Democrats taking issue with Green's nomination to the Army's top civilian post. In an interview with USA Today, Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he found a "broad variety" of Green's comments "very concerning."

When asked by USA Today which comments he found most troubling, McCain said comments "concerning the Muslim faith, concerning the LGBT community."

Controversy surrounding Green's anti-LGBTQ record gained traction when advocacy group GLAAD unearthed audio from Green's appearance on the online radio show "Hotwash With CJ and Alex" in 2016. In it, Green seems to compare transgender people to ISIS militants.

"The government exists to honor those people who live honorable who do good things — to reward people who behave well and to crush evil," Green said in the interview. "So that means as a state senator, my responsibility very clearly in Romans 13 is to create an environment where people who do right are rewarded and the people who do wrong are crushed. Evil is crushed. So I'm going to protect women in their bathrooms, and I'm going to protect our state against potential infiltration from the Syrian ISIS people in the refugee program."

Green recently took to Facebook to push back against what he says is a purposeful attempt from the left to misrepresent his words.

"The liberal left has cut and spliced my words about terrorism and ISIS blatantly falsifying what I've said. Let me be very clear," the post reads before continuing into an enumerated list, "I believe that every American has a right to defend their country regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. It's the radical left that won't allow the latter."

GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called Green's "change of heart" on LGBTQ issues a "step in the right direction" but added his "anti-LGBTQ history still makes him unfit to be the next Army Secretary."

Green's comments on "Hotwash With CJ and Alex" aren't his only controversial statements regarding the LGBTQ community. During a town hall event before a Chattanooga Tea Party event last year, he publicly stated being transgender is a "disease."

"If you poll the psychiatrists, they're going to tell you transgender is a disease," he said.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, called Green "clearly unqualified for the position."

"He has called transgender people 'diseased,' 'immoral,' and 'evil,' and has pushed for anti-transgender legislation in his current role as a Tennessee state senator," she said in a statement emailed to NBC Out.

At that same town hall in Chattanooga, Green made remarks about Muslims that also drew controversy. One attendee asked what could be done about the possibility of armed insurrection by people who "don't belong here, like Muslims in the United States." Green said it was a "great question" and made reference to the "Muslim horde" that sacked Constantinople over 500 years ago.

The Council of American-Islamic Relations said Green's "past Islamophobic statements" should disqualify him from the role, and in a press release highlighted the remarks Green made at the town hall.

Other Muslim organizations that have spoken out include the legal advocacy group Muslim Advocates, which said in a statement, "You can't lead a diverse Army while having contempt for diversity. Our armed forces are filled with patriotic Americans of all faiths, races, sexual orientations and gender identities, and Mark Green's naked bigotry disqualifies him for the job of Army Secretary."

In the face of growing opposition, House Republicans mounted a defense of Green in the form of a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. McCain in which they affirmed his "long record of distinguished accomplishments in defense of the nation."

"Any attempt to politicize personal statements or views that have been expressed by Mark at any point throughout his career must not be allowed to supersede his qualifications or be conflated to create needless uncertainty with his nomination," the letter reads. It was signed by 11 lawmakers, including all seven House Republicans from Tennessee.

Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram</s>President Trump’s pick to become U.S. Army secretary withdrew from consideration Friday amid growing opposition to his comments about Muslims and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Mark E. Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, former Army physician and West Point graduate, said in a statement he was making the decision with “deep regret” but had to do so because “false and misleading attacks against” him had made his nomination a “distraction.”

"Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," he said.

With his withdrawal, Green became the third person selected by Trump to lead a U.S. military service who had to step down in the face of mounting criticism.

Green’s problems began when a video surfaced of a September speech to a tea party group in Chattanooga in which he said that being transgender is a disease. He also indicated he believed that there was an “indoctrination of Islam" in public schools.

There was an uproar among human rights groups and LGBT advocates.

The Human Rights Campaign earlier Friday sent a letter, which was signed by a coalition of 41 organizations, to leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging that they reject Green’s nomination over his “shameful rhetoric."

“His radical views would send an incredibly dangerous message down the chain of command — a message that undermines the important progress we’ve made, threatening morale and readiness,” the letter said.

Several Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York, applauded Green’s decision to step down.

“Mark Green’s decision to withdraw his name from consideration as Army secretary is good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments,” Schumer said in a statement. “He was the wrong choice to serve as secretary, and should not have been nominated in the first place.”

Matt Thorn, executive director of OutServe - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a Washington-based organization that seeks LGBT equality in the military, said that serving as secretary of the Army is an "incredible and vital role to the success of our modern military."

The previous secretary, Eric K. Fanning, was the first openly gay civilian to head a U.S. military service.

"Mark Green did not live up to the duty and honor that is expected of an individual serving in such a role. Mr. Green has better served the Army with his withdrawal than he would have as secretary," Thorn said.

Green is Trump's second Army secretary nominee to step down. Billionaire investor Vincent Viola dropped out from consideration for Army secretary in February after he decided his extensive financial holdings would hamper his ability to win Senate confirmation.

Philip M. Bilden, Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, withdrew from consideration shortly thereafter, due to his own problems untangling his financial investments.</s>"It is with deep regret today I am withdrawing my nomination to be the Secretary of the Army," Mark Green said in a statement.

The decision by Green, Trump's second pick for the post, came after his nomination ran into trouble following a backlash after past controversial statements on LGBT issues, Islam and evolution were revealed.

Green explained his decision to pull out from a military leadership position in the wake of this controversy.

"To meet these challenges, there should be no distractions. And unfortunately due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction," he said in his statement.

"Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," he continued. "While these false attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the President the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world." Both the White House and Pentagon had told reporters earlier Friday there was nothing to announce regarding Green's nomination. Green, a retired Army flight surgeon and West Point grad, was tapped in early April as Trump's pick after billionaire Vincent Viola withdrew over issues related to divesting from his financial holdings. Philip Bilden, Trump's pick to be Navy secretary, also withdrew because he was not able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics' requirements for divestment without "undue disruption" of his assets. Green, currently a state senator in Tennessee, faced rising opposition from LGBT activists and Democrats for his past comments about transgender people. In 2016, Green told a tea party group, "if you poll the psychiatrists, they're going to tell you that transgender is a disease." In 2013, Green blasted President Barack Obama for supporting what he said were "'transvestites in uniform." Green, who is a former Army doctor, is also a self-identified "creationist" who has delivered a lecture arguing against the theory of evolution. Green had defended himself from criticism in a Facebook post last week, writing that the "liberal left has cut and spliced my words about terrorism and ISIS, blatantly falsifying what I've said." Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain have also expressed concern over Green's past comments.</s>WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's choice for Army secretary withdrew his nomination on Friday in the face of growing criticism over his remarks about Muslims, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that "false and misleading attacks" against him had turned his nomination into a distraction.

"Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," Green said, expressing "deep regret" over the decision.

Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

The move to step aside comes after a video began circulating of a remarks Green gave in September to a tea party group in Chattanooga. Green, who is opposed to gay marriage, said being transgender is a disease. He urged that a stand be taken against "the indoctrination of Islam" in public schools" and also referred to the "Muslim horde" that invaded Constantinople hundreds of years ago.

Several Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, declared they would oppose Green's nomination over what they said were intolerant and disturbing views. Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm during the Iraq war, said in a statement Friday that Green wasn't fit to lead the service.

"Mark Green's decision to withdraw his name from consideration as Army secretary is good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more," he said in a statement.

Also on Friday, a coalition of 41 organizations led by the Human Rights Campaign called on the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reject Green's nomination. The letter to Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island said Green's "shameful rhetoric" is at odds with the Army's core values and will affect recruiting.

Green's withdrawal underscores the challenges Trump has faced in filling two of the service secretary posts. The president's first pick to be the Army's top civilian, Vincent Viola, dropped out in early February because of financial entanglements, and about three weeks later Philip B. Bilden, the Navy secretary nominee, withdrew for similar reasons.

The GOP-led Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on the nomination of Heather Wilson to be Air Force secretary.

Trump's decision to tap Green in early April represented a stark contrast to President Barack Obama's choice of Eric Fanning for the post. Fanning, who'd been a senior Pentagon official, was the first openly gay leader of one of the military branches.

Green graduated from West Point in 1986 and served as an Army physician. Green is the CEO of Align MD, which provides leadership and staffing to emergency departments and hospitals, according to the White House. He served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment where he made three combat tours to the Middle East.

As a Tennessee state senator, Green sponsored legislation last year that his critics have said would make it easier for businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

During his remarks before the Chattanooga tea party group, Green said the Obama administration has "bred general officers who are afraid of their shadow." He also said that "if you poll the psychiatrists, they're going to tell you that transgender is a disease."</s>Army Secretary nominee Mark Green has withdrawn from consideration, The Hill reports.

“Democrats and military groups fiercely opposed Green over his past comments about the LGBT community, Muslims and Latinos as well as legislation he worked on in the Tennessee state senate.”</s>Secretary of the Army nominee Sen. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) withdrew his nomination for the position Friday afternoon after a number of controversial comments about LGBT came to light.

In a statement, Green said that he was honored to be nominated for the role by President Donald Trump , but that his "life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain.

"... to meet these challenges, there should be no distractions," he added. "And unfortunately due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction."

Earlier this week, a number of advocacy organizations pushed back against Green following his controversial statements in which he said LGBT people are "dangerous" and would threaten the Army's effort to create "an equal opportunity environment." The outcry culminated with a letter to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee urging them to reject his nomination, signed by more than 40 civil rights and Democratic organizations.

Green was Trump's second nominee for Army Secretary after billionaire Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola dropped out of consideration for the role in February . The position is seeking to replace Eric Fanning , the first openly gay Army Secretary, who was sworn in during former President Barack Obama's administration.</s>Mark Green released a statement Friday announcing that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for President Donald Trump’s Army Secretary.

Green has become a controversial pick for the position with one PR disaster after another. The most recent of which came when news was released showing Green opposed universal health care because he thinks it would make churches useless. Green is most known for his role trying to legalize discrimination of LGBT people in the Tennessee state Senate. He was also caught on tape denying not only climate change but even Einstein’s theory of relativity.

“To meet these challenges, there should be no distractions. And unfortunately, due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction,” Green said in the statement.

“Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain,” he continued. “While these false attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the President the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world.”

Green’s nomination was a dramatic shift from President Barack Obama’s Army secretary, Eric Fanning, who was the first openly gay person to serve in the post.</s>The White House’s second pick to become secretary of the Army withdrew his nomination for that post on Friday.

“Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain,” Mark Green said in a statement.

CNN first reported on Tuesday that Green, a Tennessee state senator and former Army physician and West Point graduate, was unlikely to move forward because, according to one unnamed source, “there are questions whether he has enough support from either side of the aisle.”

Green ran into fierce opposition for his open slurs against Muslims and LGBT people.

Trump’s previous nominee to lead the Army, businessman and investor Vincent Viola, withdrew his name from consideration for the post on Feb. 4 following his difficulty separating himself from his businesses. Trump’s previous nominee for Navy secretary, Philip Bilden, also withdrew his name over financial conflicts weeks later, despite White House assertions that he would not.

On Tuesday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) told USA Today, “Some of the comments that have been attributed to him obviously are very concerning” and “I think there are some issues that clearly need to be cleared up.”

Trump nominated Green on April 7, to an immediate backlash. A military LGBT group told the New York Times that Green “cannot be trusted to ensure all those who serve have the support they need and deserve,” given his record as a state legislator.

Addressing a Tea Party group last year, the Times noted, Green said that a poll of psychiatrists would reveal “transgender is a disease,” and “we are back to where the country was at its beginning, and it’s the armed citizen who will defend this nation.”

Muslim advocacy groups also came out against Green’s past statements against Islam, including that it shouldn’t be included in public school curricula, except when portrayed as an invading military force. In his book, “A Night with Saddam,” which detailed his role in the operation that resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein, Green wrote that Hussein “was not filthy,” unlike other high-value targets, who “had an odor of what I thought was curry mixed with sweat.”

On Monday, CNN surfaced a lecture Green gave in 2015, in which he said the theory of evolution violated the second law of thermodynamics and compared billions of years of evolution to leaving a lawnmower outdoors.

“If you put a lawn mower out in your yard and a hundred years come back, it’s rusted and falling apart,” he said. “You can’t put parts out there and a hundred years later it’s gonna come back together. That is a violation of a law of thermodynamics. A physical law that exists in the universe.”

On April 25, Green posted a statement on his Facebook page defending himself, writing that “liberal left has cut and spliced my words about terrorism and ISIS blatantly falsifying what I’ve said,” and linking to an article from ChristianFighterPilot.com that described one critic of Green’s as a “self-described man-turned-woman.”
Tennessee state senator and former Army flight surgeon Mark E. Green withdraws his name from consideration as Secretary of the Army because of political opposition. Green was the Trump Administration's second nominee for this position.