Donald Trump’s pick to be secretary of the Navy has said some crazy things.

The Pentagon confirmed that failed congressional candidate and current undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao would be replacing John Phelan, who was abruptly fired on Wednesday. It’s an appalling move, given that Cao once made a poor joke about the KKK in an interview with Steve Bannon.

“I know I’ll be attacked by the left, and call me a white supremacist, but I have one ask for them, it’s just than when you give my hood, make sure it’s got the little slits and not the circles so I can see better,” Cao said on Real America’s Voice during his failed 2024 campaign for Senate.

  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    3 months ago

    So he’s saying that the left is going to call him a white supremacist and he’s owning it? He sounds proud of it. His name is Hung Cao? This is another leopards at my face waiting to happen. Also seems like he’s stealing some valor.

    Cao has also claimed in multiple interviews that he was “shot at” and “blown up” while serving in the Navy, and and has “scars,” describing himself as “100% disabled,” but his service record doesn’t show him receiving a Purple Heart, which is given to service members who have been seriously injured by enemy fire, or the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon. When USA Today asked him about his service record in 2024, he issued an angry statement.

    “I want to give you all a window into what it’s like being a combat veteran who had the gall to run for public office against a career politician. Any veteran will read this with the same disgust. Imagine being asked to provide documentation of the dates and times Al Qaeda shot at you. Imagine being asked, if you’re a disabled veteran, why don’t you have a Purple Heart?” Cao posted.

    Edit: Could this be PTSD?

    • Malyca@lemmy.zip
      1·
      3 months ago

      Yeah I’m sure those veterans will totally defend his stolen valor. I hear they enjoy that. I’ve found that people who like to brag about combat have never seen it.

      • bedwyr@piefed.caEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        Not even, they are selling these appointments, the president is. It’s all for sale. Other qualifications exist, but they are paying I bet you.

    • FoxyFerengi@startrek.website
      1·
      3 months ago

      I’m a Navy veteran with service connected PTSD. People question if I have PTSD sometimes and it does indeed piss me off, but I’m not out here claiming to have been blown up while serving. People are starting to become aware that PTSD doesn’t always stem from combat, and that awareness will help more people going forward. Mine comes from being attacked and raped by my shipmates, I didn’t expect to survive it.

      I don’t feel disgust that USA Today asked him about his service, instead I wonder why he didn’t have a better response. He could have offered education about PTSD or said he wanted to increase transparency around disability ratings in the VA, or any number of things.

      • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        3 months ago

        That’s exactly it. If it is PTSD, he should talk about that. He’s talking about physical scars, so it’s hard to parse.

        I’m really sorry about the PTSD, especially the cause. I hope the help you’re getting is beneficial. IME, people who haven’t been exposed to mental health issues, can be really stupid about them.

      • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 months ago

        Mine comes from being attacked and raped by my shipmates

        I’ll take “things that make me hate humanity” for $1000, Alex.