A conservative ethics scholar tapped by Republican Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford to advise on values policy has a track record of criticizing President Donald Trump and backing left-wing causes.
Matthew Arbo, a bioethicist and former theology professor, announced Wednesday he would join the senator’s office as part of the Senate Values Action Team. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Cartels Use Flying Machines For Crime At Border. Republican Senator Wants To Stop It)
“I’m delighted for the opportunity to advance vital issues that protect and strengthen the public good and I’m honored to serve Sen. Lankford and his constituents,” he tweeted.
Some exciting personal news: I’m joining @SenatorLankford ‘s staff to help lead the values policy portfolio. I’m delighted for the opportunity to advance vital issues that protect and strengthen the public good and I’m honored to serve Sen. Lankford and his constituents.
— Matthew Arbo (@MatthewBArbo) July 9, 2025
Although Arbo framed his new role as simply helping to “lead the values policy portfolio,” Breitbart reported he would lead the Senate Values Action Team — a caucus, according to Legistorm, “dedicated to advancing policy that promotes traditional values.”
But critics argue his record compromises that mission.
The American Accountability Foundation, a self-described pro-America First watchdog, blasted the hire as “embarrassing and disappointing,” calling Arbo “an apologist for Critical Race Theory posing as [Lankford’s] values advisor.”
The group shared screenshots of what appears to be a now-deleted 2020 tweet from Arbo dismissing conservative opposition to critical race theory (CRT) as overblown.
“The white-knuckle paranoia about CRT (of all things) is kinda comical at this point,” Arbo appeared to tweet.
It is embarrassing and disappointing that @SenatorLankford hired an apologist for Critical Race Theory as his values advisor.
The fight against BLM, CRT, & DEI have been the essential element to returning merit to admissions, hiring, and promotion and Matthew Arno is on the… https://t.co/OQc0oPSmDD pic.twitter.com/Z8yOWlmKlR
— American Accountability Foundation (@Theswampmonitor) July 9, 2025
“How do conservatives lose? Hiring guys like this,” the Foundation added.
William E. Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, also slammed Lankford’s pick.
“Arbo has a long track of advocating for very liberal positions in the SBC,” Wolfe tweeted.
Very disappointing hire here by Senator Lankford. Matthew Arbo has a long track of advocating for very liberal positions in the SBC.
Not only does he scoff at legitimate concerns with CRT, he argued *against* religious exemptions for the COVID vax (hardly a “Christian values”… https://t.co/fwYreDaYur pic.twitter.com/tjUcdBqOM1
— William Wolfe 🇺🇸 (@William_E_Wolfe) July 9, 2025
Wolfe shared additional screenshots showing Arbo urging Christians not to seek religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Breitbart also pointed to Arbo’s consistent record of hostility toward Trump. In a 2019 op-ed for Religion News Service, Arbo revealed he had blocked Trump on Twitter, calling the president’s posts “insidious, even vile.”
“I didn’t wish to experience a United States president embarrassing the office on a near-daily basis,” he wrote.
Lankford’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.
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