{"id":60817,"date":"2019-11-25T18:01:23","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T18:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/11\/25\/secdef-explains-why-navy-secretary-was-fired-over-double-talk-in-seal-trident-controversy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:55:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:55:48","slug":"secdef-explains-why-navy-secretary-was-fired-over-double-talk-in-seal-trident-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/11\/25\/secdef-explains-why-navy-secretary-was-fired-over-double-talk-in-seal-trident-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Esper explains why Navy secretary was fired over double-talk in SEAL trident controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The controversy around the case of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher claimed the Secretary of the Navy amid wrangling over whether or how to punish the SEAL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

After President Donald Trump announced Nov. 15 that he would restore the chief petty officer rank of a SEAL accused of war crime<\/a>s earlier this year, senior Pentagon leadership agreed<\/a> that they would convene a board of Navy chiefs to decide whether Chief Special Warfare Operator Eddie Gallagher would get to keep his coveted trident qualification pin that signifies his official status as a SEAL as he prepared for retirement later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But unbeknownst to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Esper told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer<\/a> had gone behind their backs to broker a deal with the White House that would see Gallagher retire with his SEAL trident pin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was Spencer\u2019s downfall, Esper said, noting that Spencer contradicted his public statements and his agreement with senior officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we agree on a position, we stick to it and support it, both in private and public,\u201d Esper said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like that position, then simply resign. Otherwise, implement it as if you would implement any order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to some media reports, Esper said, Spencer was not fired because he refused to follow a White House order to protect Gallagher\u2019s trident. Spencer was fired, Esper said, because he agreed with senior defense officials to let the process play out, then circumnavigated his chain of command to appeal to the president\u2019s preferred outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper and Milley learned of the discussions as they left the White House on Friday, Esper said, when a senior White House official pulled them aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis proposal was completely contrary to what we agreed to and contrary to Secretary Spencer\u2019s public position,\u201d Esper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper said he spoke to Trump on Saturday and Sunday, during which he got the president\u2019s support to fire Spencer, and received the direct order to restore Gallagher\u2019s trident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper\u2019s statements contradicted a resignation letter signed by Spencer and released late Sunday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,\u201d Spencer wrote, arguing that Trump\u2019s position is contrary to good order and discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter was hand-dated Nov. 24, bringing into question when it was actually written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward \u201cEddie\u201d Gallagher, left, and his wife Andrea hug after leaving the Naval Base San Diego courthouse on Tuesday. (Gregory Bull\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Esper told reporters that Spencer had confided in him that he would \u201clikely, probably\u201d resign if ordered to protect Gallagher\u2019s SEAL qualification, though Spencer said Sunday<\/a> that he had not \u201cthreatened\u201d such action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my issue with trust and confidence,\u201d Esper said. \u201cI cannot reconcile the personal statements with the public statements and the written word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, Esper added, when he asked for Spencer\u2019s resignation on Sunday, the SECNAV said he\u2019d have it to him in 30 minutes, raising suspicions that Spencer had the letter prepared well in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper would not confirm whether the Spencer letter made public Sunday night is the same one he received Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a pool report filed Monday, Trump was asked in the Oval Office about Spencer\u2019s firing and the president said he and others had \u201cbeen thinking about that for a long time, that didn\u2019t just happen,\u201d before adding \u201cIt\u2019s about time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also called Gallagher a \u201cgreat fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t