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
Does the President have the power to change the name of a military vessel? Asking for a friend...
Last time I check President Trump was their boss, probably not a good idea to send you boss a “stern warning” about anything if you value your future career.
.....Except when democraps are in the White House!
Who gives a flying crap?
First of all it is stupid.
Also, how did it get into the MSM? The blabbermouth needs to be fired immediately. Don’t bother coming in on Monday.
Why the jell did the Navy name a ship after that traitor? They know his record! Find out who was responsible for the naming and tar n feather em good!
I suggest that those generals, admirals and worthless bureaucrats dust off a copy of The Constitution and review Who tells Whom what to do!
Why blame the WH. It wasn’t done under POTUS’s authorization. Look elsewhere Admiral
This is so unreal. I mean when I was in the Army, if I sent a stern message to the commander telling him I was not going to comply with an order of his, my ass would be grass with at least an Article 15 being the lawn mower.
If this is a fact based story, those issuing the message need to start retirement immediately.
That would probably leave out most still on the job.
obummer got rid of most of those.
But’s it’s easy enough to pull someone out of retirement if they are willing.
I don’t have a day in the service but I’ll take the job :)
I’ll just use some guys on FR as my advisers :)
Probably not. Besides, every sailor knows that changing a vessels name is an invitation to bad luck for that vessel. Forever.
Just sending this warning and letting it be published is exactly that.
Is this story corroborated?
If not, then it’s just more fake news from never-Trumper Glenn Beck.
Presidential “flunkies” do advance work to make sure nothing at a locale will embarrass their man. Probably someone saw the McCain and figured it wouldn’t be good to have it in a picture with Trump, so he asked it be moved.
Presidents usually don’t know about these things, they don’t pay that kind of attention to minor details on their trips, and the flunkies involved probably don’t have the experience and maturity to handle such matters.
A tempest in a teapot.
Why the jell did the Navy name a ship after that traitor? They know his record! Find out who was responsible for the naming and tar n feather em good!
This is where the politicization took place.
Who named a ship after him?
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