Posted on 06/02/2019 1:46:13 PM PDT by Ennis85
The Pentagon sent a stern message to the White House over the weekend after it was confirmed officials directed the United States Navy to minimize the presence of the USS John McCain during President Donald Trump's recent visit to Japan.
What did the Pentagon say?
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan directed his staff over the weekend to reaffirm that the U.S. military will not be "politicized," Reuters reported.
"Secretary Shanahan directed his chief of staff to speak with the White House military office and reaffirm his mandate that the Department of Defense will not be politicized," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Colonel Joe Buccino said. "The chief of staff reported that he did reinforce this message."
While traveling to Seoul on Sunday, Shanahan reaffirmed his message to reporters accompanying him on the trip.
"There is no room for politicizing the military," Shanahan said.
What is the background?
On Saturday, the U.S. Navy confirmed the White House requested the USS John McCain be moved during Trump's visit to Japan, NBC News reported.
"A request was made to the U.S. Navy to minimize the visibility of USS John S. McCain, however, all ships remained in their normal configuration during the President's visit," Rear Admiral Charlie Brown, chief of information, told NBC.
According to Reuters, the request originated in the White House military office. Apparently, staffers believed the optics would not be good for the president since McCain was one of his biggest political rivals.
However, as Brown confirmed, senior Navy leadership refused comply with the request.
What is the White House saying?
On Sunday, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney downplayed the incident, calling the request "not ... unreasonable."
https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/1135176786873081857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1135176786873081857%7Ctwgr%5E393039363b636f6e74726f6c&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fres%2Fcommunity%2Ftwitter_embed%2F%3Fiframe_id%3Dtwitter-embed-1135176786873081857%26created_ts%3D1559482211.0%26screen_name%3DMeetThePress%26text%3DWATCH%253A%2BActing%2BWhite%2BHouse%2BChief%2Bof%2BStaff%2BMick%2BMulvaney%2Btells%2BChuck%2BTodd%2Bthat%2Bmoving%2Ba%2BNavy%2Bship%2Bout%2Bof%2Bsight%2Bfrom%2Bt%25E2%2580%25A6%2Bhttps%253A%252F%252Ft.co%252FW5ZvDSw0DM%26id%3D1135176786873081857%26name%3DMeet%2Bthe%2BPress
Especially when the last 7th Fleet commander got shitcaned for training & manning problems leading to two collisions.
Ad far as the request goes... it was stupid. That kind of request always gets leaked by somebody who’d rather not salute and say aye-aye.
Yeah!
Don’t politicize the military! You’ll upset the trannies and queers.
I feel sorry for the Commanding Officer - every time he boards or departs the ship the quarterdeck strikes four bells and announces ‘John McCain returning/departing’.
The ship was named for Two Admirals who were JS McCain’s father and grandfather. Last year they added JSM III to the honorees.
You can say that two of the three were honorable.
President Trump was not off base in wanting to hide the namesake of a man who tried to be his nemesis, the JSM III, who turned out to be a small man with little flying skills and fewer people skills.
only recently was Sen. John S. McCain III added.
The blaze is crazy glenn beck
It was named after his father and grandfather, both admirals. The lower that recently died was NOT who the ship was named after
Says the entity in charge of the NSA, which provably spied on Trump and many other US citizens, on behalf of 0bama...
That's rich. Fire the SOB. The military has been politicized for a long time. Brilliant of Pres. Trump to bait them and bring them out of the woodwork like this so he can get rid of them.
‘
Right. If it wasn’t politicized, it wouldn’t be named after Traitor, John McCain.
Wonder why they don’t call McCain divisive?
Beckoning praise from the Leftist Anti-American Press is Politicization.
Bureaucrats are Political Animals. Look how long the Pentagon kept secrets protecting Obama and Hillary on Benghazi.
Men were left to die, and for Politics, only Politics, the same Swamp creatures were behind Obama and Hillary.
.
Yes. He’s CINC.
Sure...The Pentagon warns the Commander in Chief!? I do not think so.
I think that horse has left the gate..............back in the Jimmy Carter days, started trotting in the Clinton years and went full gallop the first day of Obama's term.
Why would he? It wasn’t named after his political foe john mccain. This smells like fake news. Everyone knows this ship isn’t named after him.
Why are you buying into the media spin on this? You're contradicting Pres. Trump.
Donald J. Trump
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
May 29I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan. Nevertheless, @FLOTUS and I loved being with our great Military Men and Women - what a spectacular job they do!
I believe this ship was named after McInsane’s Father or Grandfather...both admirals.
I’d find out who said this and destroy his military career.
Interesting question. Read on another FR post that the ship, originally named in honor of McCain's father, a highly respected admiral and WWII hero, was "renamed" (repurposed?) in honor of John. If the Navy itself was authorized take such action one would hope the Navy's boss had the same authority.
Whether the WH request indeed politicized the Navy is a question best left for those who are the closest to the issue. Most know by now that Trump is nowhere near as inept or clumsy as Obama and is unlikely to rename the ship. He might, however, invite as a group any of the top Navy officers who may have thought they could lecture him to lunch in the WH.
Except for two thirds of the people on this thread.
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