Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Pete Hegseth Fires U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan. The Pentagon framed it Wednesday as an immediate departure.

Why it matters: The ouster of the service's top civilian caught many off-guard, and adds to the pile of military officials who either abruptly exited or were pushed out of their posts under Trump 2.0.

"Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given," a person familiar with the situation told Axios.

The same person said Phelan and Hegseth did not "get along."

Comments

They didn't get along?

What, he wasn't a drunken wife beater?

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-04-22 07:24 PM

John Phelan was a bad choice to begin with.

He had ZERO military experience.

This is just more chaos from the worst administration that ever seized power in Washington DC.

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-04-22 08:13 PM

I am pleased to present to you the Donald J. Trump Award for Public Service ...


..

#3 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-22 08:24 PM

Who would have predicted a private equity CEO and Republican fundraiser with no military experience would be a bad pick?
Everyone except Trump and the senators who voted to confirm him?

#4 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2026-04-22 09:31 PM

"Italy's shaped like a boot! Who knew?"

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-04-22 09:49 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Pain at the Pump (52 comments)

Tucker Carlson says Sorry For Endorsing Trump (31 comments)

Trump Admin Targeting Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) (26 comments)

This Is Where a Blue Wave Has to Start (19 comments)

Another Taco Tuesday (18 comments)

FBI Director Patel Sues the Atlantic Magazine for Defamation (17 comments)

Hegseth Ends Mandatory Flu Shots for Troops (14 comments)

Trump is Desperate to Win Back Joe Rogan (14 comments)

Shooting at Teotihuacan Pyramid in Mexico (13 comments)

Texas Gov Greg Abbott Threatens Cities over ICE Policies (13 comments)