I think bookending the two recent quotes with the obviously more problematic quotes from 8 years prior is intentional. A lot can change in 8 years, especially when you transition from military to civilian life. I think the ACAB sentiment he expressed in 2021 shows growth.

(Anecdotal bias incoming) The comment on rural white Americans, while inflammatory and unhelpful, isn't all that off-base in my experience. If you are born into, grow up in and stay within the same rural 10 mile radius your entire life you tend to lack perspective to say the least. Growing up in a town or village that is 90%+ white provides no frame of reference for the varying struggles people of color experience.

I grew up in one such town. Demographics were roughly 90% white, 10% Hispanic. I didn't have a black classmate until junior year of high school and I don't want to speculate about the reception they received.

As for stupidity, acquiring knowledge is at best unemphasized and at worst actively, intentionally discouraged. Willful ignorance may be a more accurate term.

There are certainly children curious enough to seek out knowledge and learn about other human experiences (hi) but I'm still struggling to escape that bucket of crabs and it has consumed and scarred me. The access to quality healthcare was abysmal, employment was primarily factory-based and starting from a place of low familial wealth is something I've struggled against my entire adult life. I'd venture a guess that he was raised in a similar setting and was only able to escape via military service.

In short; I agree with the sentiments he's expressed recently. I vehemently disagree with the sentiments he expressed over a decade ago. I'm willing to believe the tattoo was an arbitrarily chosen flash piece done in Croatia during his time in the Marines. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I'll never be his constituent so my opinion ultimately means jack shit.