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Trump replacing Navy secretary in major shakeup as Strait of Hormuz blockade rages
NY Post ^ | April 22, 2026 | By Emily Goodin

Posted on 04/22/2026 3:36:43 PM PDT by dennisw

President Trump is replacing his Secretary of the Navy as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues as a key chokepoint in the war against Iran.

John Phelan is leaving, effective immediately, and Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy, the Pentagon said Wednesday in a surprise announcement. No reason was given for his departure.

“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Cao, a Navy veteran and failed Virginia Senate candidate, is well-liked by the president.

The secretary of the Navy oversees more than 900,000 people and an annual budget of more than $210 billion.

But the role of late has had one major task: leading the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The Navy is the lead military branch on that mission.

The Strait is essentially in lockdown as the US and Iran remain in a stalemate on peace talks.

Cao is a Vietnamese refugee who came to Virginia as a child and graduated from the US Naval Academy. He was in the service for 25 years with postings in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Trump praised his personal story and his military experience when he announced Cao’s nomination for undersecretary.

“Hung is the embodiment of the American Dream. As a refugee to our Great Nation, Hung worked tirelessly to make proud the Country that gave his family a home,” the president said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History
KEYWORDS: bestpeople; blockaderages; blockheadsrage; cao; fakenoozersrage; hungcao; iran; iranwar; journosrage; navy

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1 posted on 04/22/2026 3:36:43 PM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

John Phelan was not thinking creatively enough for the Iran war? Just my guess. Lets see what Hung Cao can do.
This is crunch time.


2 posted on 04/22/2026 3:39:12 PM PDT by dennisw (Qatarlson the Insufferable blowhard ////////////////////////// There is no limit to human stupidity.)
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To: dennisw

Hope this doesn’t become Vietnam2.0


3 posted on 04/22/2026 3:40:56 PM PDT by Brandonmark (November 5, 2024 - A New Day in America!Adam Schiff PARDONED criminal!)
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To: dennisw

Didn’t this guy have zero military experience? How on earth did he get that job to begin with?


4 posted on 04/22/2026 3:45:16 PM PDT by Joann37 (This )
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To: Joann37

Never mind – – I just heard the guy was pals with Don Jr. Not that that’s a qualification though.


5 posted on 04/22/2026 3:46:26 PM PDT by Joann37 (This )
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To: Joann37

He raised millions for Trump.


6 posted on 04/22/2026 3:47:48 PM PDT by Kleon
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To: Joann37

Secretary of the Navy
On November 27, 2024, president-elect Trump announced Phelan as his nominee-to-be for United States Secretary of the Navy.[10] Many noted his lack of experience with the Navy, the military, national-security policy, and the defense industry. “Not all service secretaries come into the office with prior military experience, but he’d be the first in the Navy since 2006,” the Associated Press reported.[11]

***** The businessman/major fund raiser is out during wartime. The Navy man Hung Cao is in. 30 years in the Navy. This just had to be.


7 posted on 04/22/2026 3:50:57 PM PDT by dennisw (Qatarlson the Insufferable blowhard ////////////////////////// There is no limit to human stupidity.)
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To: dennisw

This is the third Cabinet Secretary to leave this month.

Is there a problem?


8 posted on 04/22/2026 3:51:27 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Import the third world. Become the second world.)
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To: dennisw

Vorginia senate races,?, another exercise in stretch or should I say stench.
Nobody is plurally believably so stupid as to the likenings of the so called representation herein foisted, visited, cast upon us, an insult and injustice, the STEAL is REAL
Abastale scamburger is of the same fire sale install.


9 posted on 04/22/2026 3:51:32 PM PDT by Recompennation ( Deeeeeeeeezout)
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To: dennisw

good choice, Mr. President.


10 posted on 04/22/2026 3:51:51 PM PDT by dadfly
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To: dennisw

Just a hedge fund guy with no military background whatsoever, big donor, friend of Epstein. Why the hell was he ever navy secretary to begin with?


11 posted on 04/22/2026 3:54:32 PM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
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To: Brandonmark

🙄


12 posted on 04/22/2026 3:56:14 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Brandonmark
Hope this doesn’t become Vietnam2.0

It won't, unless Trump becomes LBJ 2.0.

13 posted on 04/22/2026 3:56:36 PM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Brandonmark
Hope this doesn’t become Vietnam2.0

In terms of version numbers, Joe Biden's intervention in Ukraine would be Vietnam2.0 ("Let's go, Brandon!" ;^), while this Middle East thing would be Vietnam3.0

/sarc

14 posted on 04/22/2026 3:57:26 PM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("...mit Pulver und Blei, Die Gedanken sind frei!")
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To: Responsibility2nd

The Sec of the Navy isn’t a cabinet position.


15 posted on 04/22/2026 3:57:52 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: dennisw

Cao is a wartime consigliere


16 posted on 04/22/2026 4:00:30 PM PDT by Robe
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To: Joann37

Good question.


17 posted on 04/22/2026 4:00:48 PM PDT by roving
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To: dennisw

Undersecretary Rhymes with Kung Pao!


18 posted on 04/22/2026 4:01:21 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12- 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Nope.
You seem to have no problem counting using one hand.
Hang in there. You’re doing Awesome!! 👏


19 posted on 04/22/2026 4:01:51 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
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To: Robe

Well played.


20 posted on 04/22/2026 4:03:09 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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