Reason For Navy Sec Firing Maybe Even More Pathetic And Hegseth-y Than We Knew Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired due to conflicts with Secretary Pete Hegseth, primarily concerning Hegseth’s desire to punish Senator Mark Kelly for reminding troops of their duty to refuse illegal orders. Hegseth manipulated Donald Trump by claiming Phelan hindered his shipbuilding plans.

• The firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan is linked to Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “masculine insecurity” and potential jealousy.
• Phelan reportedly refused to punish Senator Mark Kelly for a video reminding military officers of their constitutional duty to disobey illegal orders.
• Hegseth wanted Kelly, a retired Navy captain, to be brought back onto active duty and stripped of his rank.
• Hegseth allegedly manipulated Donald Trump by claiming Phelan was obstructive to his aggressive shipbuilding agenda.
• Phelan, who had no military experience, was trying to avoid being complicit in potential war crimes ordered by Hegseth and Trump.