After the Navy decided to review Gallagher SEAL position (entirely within their rights, even with the pardon), Trump made it clear to stop it and get back to work. The SecNav KNOWS this and has gone to the press to complain, versus simply contact the President and asking him in private.
THAT is the problem.
From the Hill:
Trump weighed in again on Thursday, tweeting: “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business!”
The Navy responded in a statement, reportedly saying that it would follow “lawful orders” from Trump regarding the situation, suggesting that a formal order had not been passed down.
An indirect Tweet is not a direct order. I am a former line office in the Navy. I agree that Gallagher was treated wrongly in this instance, but if the Tweet is all Trump has done, it is not a direct order. There are proper channels for that.