This follows Trump’s tweet Thursday that the Navy “will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin.”
Trump continued his Twitter advocacy for the criminal following Spencer’s resignation.
“I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy,” the president said. “He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank.”
Trump went on to say in his Twitter thread that "contracting procedures were not addressed" to his satisfaction.
“Therefore, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer’s services have been terminated by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. I thank Richard for his service & commitment,” Trump said.
He then said “Eddie will retire peacefully” with all the honors that “he has earned, including his Trident Pin.”
“Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy,” Trump tweeted. “A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!”
So basically, Spencer was fired for suggesting a plan that the president ultimately enacted.
It’s no wonder Spencer wasn’t exactly singing Trump’s praises in his resignation letter.
“Through my Title Ten Authority, I have strived to ensure our proceedings are fair, transparent and consistent, from the newest recruit to the Flag and General Officer level,” the fired Navy man said. “Unfortunately it has become apparent that in this respect, I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline.”
Spencer went on to say the president “deserves and should expect” a Navy secretary who shares his vision but that he is not that guy.
“Therefore, with pride in the achievements we've shared, and everlasting faith in the continued service and fidelity of the finest Sailors, Marines and civilian teammates on earth,” Spencer said, “I hereby acknowledge my termination as United States Secretary of the Navy, to be effective immediately.”
Funny, that’s not even what’s at stake for the actual man convicted of a war crime. Remember Gallagher? He’s only facing removal of his Trident pin, which revokes the coveted SEAL status.
It, however, doesn’t prevent the official from remaining in the military. Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence said in a media statement that the Navy has stripped 154 Tridents since 2011.
“The Navy follows the lawful orders of the President,” Rear Adm. Charlie Brown, a Navy spokesman, said on Thursday in a statement to Daily Kos. “We will do so in case of an order to stop the administrative review of SOC Gallagher’s professional qualification. We are aware of the President’s tweet and we are awaiting further guidance.”
Eric Carpenter, a law professor at Florida International University and former military lawyer, told The Wall Street Journal outside interference undercuts the Navy SEALS program.
“Navy SEALs are supposed to be the very best. If [Chief Gallagher] is allowed to keep his pin and stay in the force, the message to the SEALS, who have had a number of discipline problems lately, is to ride it out,” Carpenter said. “The Navy leadership is saying they need to get back to basics and that outside interference undercuts that.”