{"id":23946,"date":"2020-02-08T02:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T02:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/08\/booted-by-trumps-team-ex-navy-secretary-spencer-stumps-for-democratic-rival\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:04:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:04:15","slug":"booted-by-trumps-team-ex-navy-secretary-spencer-stumps-for-democratic-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/02\/08\/booted-by-trumps-team-ex-navy-secretary-spencer-stumps-for-democratic-rival\/","title":{"rendered":"Booted by Trump\u2019s team, ex-Navy Secretary Spencer stumps for Democratic rival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less than three months <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/11\/24\/spencer-out-as-secretary-of-the-navy-over-seal-trident-scandal\/\" target=_blank>after getting pushed out by the Pentagon<\/a>, President Donald Trump\u2019s ex-Navy secretary stumped Friday for Democratic presidential candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mikebloomberg.com\/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsvTxBRDkARIsAH4W_j8a36U2SIPFCQPnaOz0nwmWYcpRND7VIj4SvH_2rvoQX-wZdbE-oqAaAlDBEALw_wcB\" target=_blank>Michael Bloomberg<\/a> in Norfolk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am proud to endorse Mike Bloomberg for President of the United States,&#8221; said Richard V. Spencer, according to a transcript of his remarks sent to Navy Times by the campaign. \u201cI have the utmost confidence that Mike will faithfully execute his duty as commander in chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;He will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and uphold the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Mike will honor the service and ensure the equal treatment of all women and men in uniform. He also will respect the advice of military advisers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tossing verbal darts at Trump while standing in the shadow of <a href=\"https:\/\/nauticus.org\/battleship-wisconsin\/\" target=_blank>the museum battleship Wisconsin<\/a>, Spencer promised that Bloomberg \u2014 the billionaire former mayor of New York and a fierce advocate of stronger gun control laws \u2014 would restore \u201cAmerica\u2019s standing in the world&#8221; and mend \u201crelationships with our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg, Spencer continued, \u201chas the experience, integrity and self-discipline to lead our armed forces, unite our country, and rebuild America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg returned the praise, lauding Spencer for his service, leadership and integrity and &#8220;for always honoring the oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, even in the face of tremendous pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I can\u2019t think of a person I respect more for their character. You really are the definition of a great American and we all appreciate it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What neither man mentioned in their flowery speeches was that Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/11\/24\/spencer-out-as-secretary-of-the-navy-over-seal-trident-scandal\/\" target=_blank>demanded Spencer\u2019s resignation<\/a> on Nov. 24 after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2019\/11\/25\/secdef-explains-why-navy-secretary-was-fired-over-double-talk-in-seal-trident-controversy\/\" target=_blank>discovering an alleged pattern of deception<\/a> tied to a series of sham hearings rigged to yank the coveted tridents of several SEALs mired in war crimes allegations, especially the pin worn by Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward \u201cEddie\u201d Gallagher.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/11\/24\/spencer-out-as-secretary-of-the-navy-over-seal-trident-scandal\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5864282.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Spencer out as Navy secretary over SEAL trident scandal<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Pentagon has asked the White House to consider Kenneth Braithwaite, the current U.S. ambassador to Norway and a retired Navy rear admiral, as the next Secretary of the Navy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump had intervened multiple times in Gallagher\u2019s case, including restoring his chief\u2019s anchors after he had been demoted to petty officer first class following his conviction for posing next to the corpse of a dead Islamic State detainee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Esper believed that Spencer followed his guidance to let uniformed Navy officers and senior enlisted leaders handle the trident review panels. During a visit to the White House at the height of the controversy, however, he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/Our-Story\/Biographies\/Biography\/Article\/614392\/general-mark-a-milley\/\" target=_blank>Mark Milley<\/a> discovered Spencer secretly tried to broker a wink-wink deal that would restore Gallagher\u2019s trident after it was taken by the administrative board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Spencer\u2019s alleged double-dealing with the White House appeared to call into question the real reason for the SEALs\u2019 administrative hearings and larger problems involving the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/01\/11\/stung-by-string-of-scandals-sea-service-urges-legal-reforms\/\" target=\"_blank\">sorry state of the Navy\u2019s criminal justice system<\/a> during the ex-secretary\u2019s tenure, he sought to paint a different picture of his departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a resignation letter released after he exited the Pentagon, Spencer said he really quit over the \u201cdeadly serious business\u201d of preserving good order and discipline in the Navy, a perspective he believed Trump didn\u2019t share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Trump took to Twitter to gripe about Spencer\u2019s inability to stop cost overruns and contracting problems in major procurement projects while also voicing his displeasure with the Navy\u2019s handling of the Gallagher affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although charged with murdering the prisoner of war, shooting at innocent civilians and other war crimes, a panel of his peers tossed the specifications against Gallagher during his summer court-martial trial, leaving only the photo accusation, a charge the SEAL never denied doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gallagher\u2019s case already had been dogged for months with allegations of misconduct by Navy prosecutors and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service under Spencer\u2019s watch that included a warrantless spying program targeting defense attorneys and Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19184001557888.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Navy Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, right, walks with his wife, Andrea Gallagher as they leave a military court on Naval Base San Diego, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in San Diego.\" class=\"wp-image-49467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19184001557888.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19184001557888.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19184001557888.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19184001557888.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Navy Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, right, walks with his wife, Andrea Gallagher as they leave a military court on Naval Base San Diego, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in San Diego. (Gregory Bull\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg\u2019s campaign team asked Navy Times to interview Spencer on Friday but later canceled, saying in an email that he was \u201cbooked for the rest of today\u201d but might be able to chat next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions submitted by Navy Times to the campaign by email weren\u2019t answered but the staff sent Bloomberg\u2019s speech and a list of endorsements the campaign received Friday from lawmakers with ties to the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They included U.S. Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y. \u2014 a former Army platoon leader wounded in Afghanistan \u2014 and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., a former Navy helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI served in the Navy with members of our military community dedicated to making our country safer and stronger, and it\u2019s clear we need the same level of commitment from our political leaders,\u201d she said in an email forwarded by the campaign to Navy Times. \u201cMike Bloomberg embodies the integrity we need from leadership and I am proud to give my support to him today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;His unwavering commitment to making our schools and streets safe from gun violence, investing in our region\u2019s infrastructure, creating opportunities for our veterans, and protecting our environment is proof that Mike Bloomberg won\u2019t back down from the many serious challenges we face as a country. Mike is a true public servant, and I\u2019m confident he will move this country forward into a bright future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"5008\" height=\"3339\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg 5008w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18283009031823.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5008px) 100vw, 5008px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Navy veteran Mikie Sherrill greets voters during a candidate forum at the in New Jersey on Oct. 9, 2018. Sherrill is one of 17 new veteran candidates to win a congressional seat in Tuesday&#8217;s midterm elections. (Mary Altaffer\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg echoed her glowing endorsement during his Friday visit to Norfolk, where he pitched a plan designed to appeal to military veterans in Virginia, which will participate in the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Largely bypassing the Iowa caucus and the upcoming New Hampshire primary, Bloomberg\u2019s campaign has focused on Virginia, Texas, California and 11 other Super Tuesday states,<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/481422-bloomberg-plans-to-double-television-spending-expand-staff-in-wake-of-iowa\" target=\"_blank\"> reportedly saturating the airwaves with more than $300 million in TV ads<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI won\u2019t get into all of the details, but you can rest assured that our administration will help more veterans launch small businesses, our administration will connect veterans with good jobs and build on the skills and training that they have, and our administration will strengthen the VA to better serve those who need it,&#8221; Bloomberg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the things we\u2019re also going to do is make sure that we help veterans build more wealth and successful careers after service, and strengthening healthcare, and mental healthcare, and reproductive healthcare, and affordable child care for veterans and service members.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for how he\u2019ll perform as the commander in chief, Bloomberg said it won\u2019t be like several of his Democratic rivals who are legislators \u2014 such as Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Army Klobuchar \u2014but rather as an \u201ceffective decision-maker&#8221; who has run large organizations, including the 300,000 municipal employees in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe all know the hardest decisions a president has to make are those that put Americans in harm\u2019s way,&#8221; Bloomberg said. \u201cThose are decisions that must never be taken lightly \u2013 or without broad consultation with senior military and civilian national security advisers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He promised to install a smart and nimble national security team that will sift through &#8220;data and intelligence, thinking through second- and third-order consequences, and, ultimately, making decisions and carrying them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreat leaders know how to separate what is important from what is not. They know how to define priorities and keep the focus on them and not be distracted or diverted from things that really don\u2019t matter.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mike1.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign rally at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday.  (Tom Gralish\/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg pointed to Trump as a \u201ccult leader\u201d who \u201cacts on impulse, rather than reason,&#8221; a man who \u201cthinks he alone has the answers\u201d who\u2019s saddled with an ego that \u201cdoes not leave room for the concept of team.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe seems to view our international allies the same way \u2014 not as partners, but as lackeys who must bend to his will, or face the consequences,&#8221; Bloomberg continued. \u201cInternational partnerships are crucial to America\u2019s ability to achieve strategic goals \u2014 for our security, and our economy, and in every other important area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bloomberg criticized the president\u2019s decision to \u201cabandon our Kurdish allies\u201d in Syria, a message the former mayor said \u201ccould not be clearer: You can\u2019t count on America anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He called the late Sen. John McCain, a Navy hero and Republican who represented Arizona, a \u201cgood friend&#8221; who was insulted by Trump, a president who \u201ccan\u2019t abide strong, independent thinkers\u201d and listens more to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin than his own director of National Intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/05\/30\/trump-shanahan-distance-themselves-from-mccain-controversy\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Trump-hands.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Trump, Shanahan distance themselves from McCain controversy<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Pentagon\u2019s acting chief, Patrick Shanahan, ordered his chief of staff to investigate the flap.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They hope to woo Virginia voters as the Super Tuesday primaries loom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":49461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home","pentagon-congress","middle-column"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"4":{"categories":["pentagon-congress","news","middle-column","home","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"pentagon-congress"},"5":{"categories":["pentagon-congress","news","middle-column","home","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"pentagon-congress"},"6":{"categories":["pentagon-congress","news","middle-column","home","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"pentagon-congress"}}},"categories":[101,23,12,26,62,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3017],"class_list":["post-23946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"QHWME4WA5ZFVZIJ2YRFCLHKDR4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/02\/08\/booted-by-trumps-team-ex-navy-secretary-spencer-stumps-for-democratic-rival\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Booted by Trump\u2019s team, ex-Navy Secretary Spencer stumps for Democratic rival - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"They hope to woo Virginia voters as the Super Tuesday primaries loom.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Booted by Trump\u2019s team, ex-Navy Secretary Spencer stumps for Democratic rival\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"They hope to woo Virginia voters as the Super Tuesday primaries loom.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/02\/08\/booted-by-trumps-team-ex-navy-secretary-spencer-stumps-for-democratic-rival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-02-08T02:09:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T19:04:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carl Prine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carl Prine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": 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