WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper fired the Navy’s top civilian on Sunday over his handling of the case of a Navy SEAL who was convicted of battlefield misconduct in Iraq and later won the support of President Donald Trump.
“Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin,” Trump said on Twitter. The White House said in November that Trump had restored Gallagher’s rank and had pardoned two Army officers accused of war crimes in Afghanistan. Critics had said such actions would undermine military justice and send a message that battlefield atrocities will be tolerated.
FILE PHOTO: Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer speaks with personnel during a visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 12, 2018. U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Akeel Austin/Handout via REUTERS “Secretary Spencer had previously and privately proposed to the White House - contrary to Spencer’s public position - to restore Gallagher’s rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin,” Hoffman said.Esper decided to ask for Spencer’s resignation after “losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor over conversations with the White House,” Hoffman said.
What's ' fish-lips', doing there? You'd wonder
He was fired for lying and trying to make a fictional storyline for the press
He was fired for lying
So fucked up
Isn’t this stupid! War Criminal Trump should be also fired. America has become a backward rogue dictatorship where if you disagree with its ruler your fired and trashed. What happened to democracy and America?
And now this alleged war criminal is the GOP’s newest cheerleader. Let’s not forget what he’s been accused: 🛑stabbing a teenage prisoner to death 🛑murdering a young girl and an old man 🛑Firing a heavy machine gun into a residential area Republicans must be so proud...
This divides our military from Tier 1 operators down and through every MOS. Elite professionalism is why SOF has been historically revered and feared, and that distinction is what’s supposed to differentiate terrorists from “us”. This isn’t “breaking a few eggs”, this is bad.
Trump was wrong.
Commander In Chief
Trump pardons war criminals who are turned in by their own. This guy shot children for fun.
We have a president that doesn't believe in law and order and loves and backs those who break the law.
A navy sec for a rogue element. Wake up america. What is happening to you?
This sets a HORRIBLE precedent for our nation. Trump has made our nation an unstable one. For the love of God PFPAOfficial do something.
Once again Presidunce bone spurs has waded into waters he knows nothing about and is weakening our military. If Gallagher could not withstand the scrutiny of a peer review he does not deserve to be a Navy Seal. Trump shudda stayed out of it & let the Navy handle Navy’s biz.
faab64 American psychos have found a hero in Trump. Kill and torture as many innocent civilians as you want, the President will pardon you anyways.
The Hunted, tells all you need to know about keeping troops in perpetual killing battlegrounds. The human psych is not something you repeatedly test under extreme traumatic conditions; the end result defeats the purpose of maintaining law and order for the good of humanity.
Let this sink in. Bad news for the rule of law!
Lobbying against the SEAL behind the scenes is really despicable. Glad he is gone. Now the rest of the brass involved me go.
A good man with principle and moral.
War is ugly business done by tough men doing grisly business who assure our freedom. Seals, Delta Force, Green Berets and Rangers frequently put their lives and their comfort aside at the direct request of the President. They have our backs and I am glad the President has theirs.
so much to clean up
It's a worry for GOP & GOPChairwoman, that the CinC of USA military, is taking the side of a Navy SEAL's unprofessional behaviour, posing for photos of a dead enemy fighter! All western armies pride themselves on their disciplined soldiers. Rewarding bad actions isn't good - DT
Trump pardons guys whose own men turned them in for shooting children for fun.
Good.
that dude is a war criminal that all of the navy condemn...not just some “misconduct”
Civilian control of the armed forces is a central tenet of the US Constitution. In the absence of adopting the President’s position, Spencer’s resignation was the only possible outcome...
Our military deserves better.
Not very smart - Should’ve kept his mouth shut, not publicly and blatantly defy a standing POTUS! His days had already been numbered and wasn’t liked much.
Misconduct wasn't he accused of murder?
Bunch of people typing from their computer comforts. The left knows nothing but to try an destroy the President. Anyone in any position is being led to disobey the Commander in Chief. That's not the way it works. Gallagher was acquitted. Get back to business
Booooooo
'battlefield misconduct'
It is 'Ugly Trumpian Time'. It is time of ugliness.
Hey that's the Trump/Putin way! If you got to destroy it then you got to tear it all down.
Thank you sir for your morale fortitude to do what’s right for our county, not like the piece of 💩NavySEAL who dishonored our military GallagherIsAWarCriminal GallagherCowardice
Trump supporting the law? Don’t be silly.
disgrace. the rule of law is the rule of law. sooner trump is out the better.
Meanwhile, the guy who took selfie’s with a mangled corpse is being called a hero
Why does the military support president bone spur?
Great someone else is going to get put in charge, and change the working uniform again.
WTF? I’ve seen this fine by dictators. Never thought it would become a regular thing here....
This podcast helps know the story behind the one pardoned.
After 1946 Nuremberg Trials, it became a WarCrime to pardon a war criminal according to treaty which USA is signatory (US Constitution, Article 3 Paragraph 2). Therefore, Trump is a WarCriminal. This should be an Article of Impeachment. .HouseJudiciary RepAdamSmith USNavy
Trump is an embarrassment to the military code of honor. Toddler in chief
Not good enough. The Navy brass need to go too.
The garbage collecting Republicants still think that you can do whatever you want in this country and suffer no or little consequences all because of who you know or what you’ve known. Trump is now one of the least accountable dudes in history.
Trump is a child wanna be dictator. He’s pathetic.
fired not resigned, DrainTheSwamp
Why does the idiot Screaming Carrot think it's ok to mess with things he has no knowledge of or expertise He can't can't help himself. He MUST have his fingers in everything! smh
'Handling of SEAL saga'....is MSM-speak for disobeying orders.
How many lives is this failed TV show person going to destroy? How many are going to die? how many children have already died/been killed by this moron?
DJT leaving his mark everywhere he goes. Navy loses a good man because he stood on principle and because DJT has none. Sad day.
Someone must secure nuke buttons from POTUS ! He lives in a different world ,his brain is simply inconsistent.
This what he(Trump) has been doing all along since start of his Adminstration
45 is so ignorant
Our soldiers who fought for years to destroy ISIS deserved to be given counseling for PTSD. Not attacked by an out of touch leader. No wonder so many soldiers are committing suicide. The Navy Secretary was a disgrace!
There seems to be some question over fired vs. resigned.
So now Trump is going to destroy military moral too. WAKE UP AMERICA!
You don't tell the commander in chief no. is that simple .
Yikes sad .
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