Latest news with #Stavridis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Retired Navy admiral criticizes Hegseth over Harvey Milk ship renaming
Retired Adm. James Stavridis said he doesn't agree with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to rename the USNS Harvey, removing the commemoration of gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Milk, a former service member, served as a political official in California and championed rights for the local LGBTQ community before he was assassinated. 'I am scratching my head about renaming the USS — USNS, to be accurate — Harvey Milk, because Harvey Milk was gay. We all know that. But today, gay sailors serve openly and with a great deal of pride in the U.S. military,' the former supreme allied commander of NATO said during a Friday episode of 'The Michael Smerconish Program.' He noted that past military leaders have been both gay and successful at accomplishing their mission while serving. 'I know many who are gay and are very competent war-fighting sailors. So when the secretary of Defense says, 'Hey, I'm renaming this in order to restore the warrior ethos,' I just don't get that at all,' Stavridis said. 'There have been gay soldiers in militaries going back centuries. I'm Greek American. Arguably the greatest general in history, Alexander the Great was gay and, oh, by the way, people serving at the highest level of the U.S. Cabinet today, like secretary of the Treasury, who I think is doing a pretty good job with a tough hand of cards, [Scott] Bessent, is openly gay.' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the second openly gay man to serve in a Cabinet position. He hasn't commented on the Trump administration's efforts to remove aspects of gender identity from the military branch. Stavridis, however, said the potential ship renaming is uncanny, especially during a month established to celebrate gay rights. 'I don't get it on why we need to rename this ship this moment and also to do it during Pride Month. … I don't agree with it,' he said. Reports emerged Wednesday alleging that Hegseth has ordered the oil fleet to lose its name. However, officials have yet to make a public announcement confirming the move. 'Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD [Department of Defense] installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos,' chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to The Hill when asked about potential renaming. 'Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.' USNS Harvey Milk was a part of the John Lewis class of oil replenishment ships, which touts the names of other civil rights leaders including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Harriet Tubman. Officials are also considering removing their names, according to reports from CBS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Retired Navy admiral criticizes Hegseth over Harvey Milk ship renaming
Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.) said he doesn't agree with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to rename the USNS Harvey, removing the commemoration of gay activist Harvey Milk. Milk, a former service member, served as a political official in California and championed rights for the local LGBTQ community before being assassinated. 'I am scratching my head about renaming the USS, USNS, to be accurate, Harvey Milk, because Harvey Milk was gay. We all know that. But today, gay sailors serve openly and with a great deal of pride in the US military,' the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO said during a Friday episode of The Michael Smerconish Program. He noted that past military leaders have been both gay and successful at accomplishing their mission while serving. 'I know many who are gay and are very competent war-fighting sailors. So when the Secretary of Defense says, Hey, I'm renaming this in order to restore the warrior ethos, I just don't get that at all,' Stavridis said. 'There have been gay soldiers in militaries going back centuries. I'm Greek American. Arguably the greatest general in history, Alexander the Great was gay and, oh, by the way, people serving at the highest level of the US Cabinet today, like Secretary of the Treasury, who I think is doing a pretty good job with a tough hand of cards, [Scott] Bessent, is openly gay.' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the second openly gay man to serve in a Cabinet position. He hasn't openly commented on the Trump administration's efforts to remove aspects of gender identity from the military branch. Stavridis, however, said the potential ship renaming is uncanny, especially during a month established to celebrate gay rights. 'I don't get it on why we need to rename this ship this moment, and also to do it during Pride month […] I don't agree with it,' he said. Reports emerged on Wednesday alleging that Hegseth has ordered the oil fleet to lose its name. However, officials have yet to make a public announcement confirming the move. 'Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos,' chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to The Hill when asked about potential renaming. 'Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.' USNS Harvey Milk was a part of the John Lewis class of oil replenishment ships, which touts other civil rights leaders including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Harriet Tubman. Officials are also considering removing their names according to reports from CBS.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-NATO Commander Blasts Pete Hegseth's 'Indefensible' Conduct With Searing Reminder
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday for his reported use of Signal to share highly sensitive military plans with Trump officials as well as family members and his attorney. 'There is absolutely no reason on the planet earth he should be doing that and he knows it,' said the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Hegseth's use of the third-party messaging app in an interview with CNN's Boris Sanchez. 'He's a former major in the U.S. Army, he was trained throughout his time as a junior officer to protect and guard the nation's secrets. He's got to know that he has failed to do that.' Hegseth — who shared details of upcoming attacks in Yemen in a Signal chat with senior Trump officials (and a journalist) — is reportedly close to being replaced in his post after The New York Times reported Sunday that he shared nearly identical details in a separate chat with his wife, brother and lawyer. Stavridis argued that 'Signalgate 2.0,' compared to the first chat involving high-ranking officials only to be 'leaked inadvertently' to a member of the press, now involves 'unclassified individuals who lack the need to know any of this.' 'So it's gone from outrageous to truly egregious and it's conduct that, frankly, is indefensible,' Stavridis said. The former Fox News host — when asked about the reports of the second Signal chat on Monday — chided the media as he blamed 'disgruntled former employees' for leaks at the Pentagon. His comments arrive following a chaotic week at the Pentagon that saw Hegseth firing three of his advisers, who — in a joint statement — claimed that they didn't know why they'd been fired. 'You can't just fire people and expect loyalty from them on the far side of the bridge,' Stavridis stressed. 'So no, I'm not surprised about the blowback from firing people that you have hired. We ought to remember, these are folks that Secretary Hegseth hired, put on his team, he chose them, he's worked with them in the past. I think it's quite damning.' Stavridis pointed to an op-ed recently penned by John Ullyot, a top Pentagon spokesman who resigned last week who claimed that those who were fired weren't responsible for the leaks at the Defense Department. Congressman: It's 'Fair To Wonder' If Pete Hegseth Was Drinking Amid Signal Use Trump Can Fire Hegseth But Refuses To; Cannot Fire Powell But Wants To Anyway Hegseth Lashes Out At Media After Firing His Own Aides Amid Pentagon 'Meltdown'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-NATO Commander Blasts Pete Hegseth's 'Indefensible' Conduct With Searing Reminder
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday for his reported use of Signal to share highly sensitive military plans with Trump officials as well as family members and his attorney. 'There is absolutely no reason on the planet earth he should be doing that and he knows it,' said the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Hegseth's use of the third-party messaging app in an interview with CNN's Boris Sanchez. 'He's a former major in the U.S. Army, he was trained throughout his time as a junior officer to protect and guard the nation's secrets. He's got to know that he has failed to do that.' Hegseth — who shared details of upcoming attacks in Yemen in a Signal chat with senior Trump officials (and a journalist) — is reportedly close to being replaced in his post after The New York Times reported Sunday that he shared nearly identical details in a separate chat with his wife, brother and lawyer. Stavridis argued that 'Signalgate 2.0,' compared to the first chat involving high-ranking officials only to be 'leaked inadvertently' to a member of the press, now involves 'unclassified individuals who lack the need to know any of this.' 'So it's gone from outrageous to truly egregious and it's conduct that, frankly, is indefensible,' Stavridis said. The former Fox News host — when asked about the reports of the second Signal chat on Monday — chided the media as he blamed 'disgruntled former employees' for leaks at the Pentagon. His comments arrive following a chaotic week at the Pentagon that saw Hegseth firing three of his advisers, who — in a joint statement — claimed that they didn't know why they'd been fired. 'You can't just fire people and expect loyalty from them on the far side of the bridge,' Stavridis stressed. 'So no, I'm not surprised about the blowback from firing people that you have hired. We ought to remember, these are folks that Secretary Hegseth hired, put on his team, he chose them, he's worked with them in the past. I think it's quite damning.' Stavridis pointed to an op-ed recently penned by John Ullyot, a top Pentagon spokesman who resigned last week who claimed that those who were fired weren't responsible for the leaks at the Defense Department. On @CNN with @Boris_Sanchez discussing SignalGate 2.0 "You can't just fire people and expect loyalty from them..." — Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. (@stavridisj) April 21, 2025 Congressman: It's 'Fair To Wonder' If Pete Hegseth Was Drinking Amid Signal Use Trump Can Fire Hegseth But Refuses To; Cannot Fire Powell But Wants To Anyway Hegseth Lashes Out At Media After Firing His Own Aides Amid Pentagon 'Meltdown'
