Former US Navy chief asked Trump not to fire him — WSJ
On Wednesday, April 22, U.S. Navy Secretary John Fallon stepped down from his post following a failed attempt to secure the support of the head of state.
This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Despite a long wait at the White House and a personal conversation with the country’s leader, U.S. President Donald Trump sided with the Pentagon leadership.
The conflict escalated when Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and his deputy, Stephen Fineberg, reported to Trump on the unsatisfactory pace of fleet reform.
The main complaints were the slow progress of the “Golden Fleet” project and excessive reliance on outdated steam engines, which contradicts the administration’s priorities.
John Fallon tried to personally convince the president to keep him in his position, emphasizing the importance of his role in defense planning.
“He needs to talk to Trump,” the secretary’s aides said as he headed to an urgent meeting at the president’s residence.
However, the U.S. president upheld Pete Hagset’s decision, despite the fact that Falan is his longtime personal friend and had actively participated in fundraising for the election campaign.
Trump instructed the Secretary of Defense to formally complete the dismissal process, prioritizing the chain of command over personal ties.
Sources report that Fallon’s attempt to bypass his immediate superior only hastened his dismissal.
Such behavior was interpreted as a refusal to acknowledge the chain of command, which is unacceptable within the current power structure at the White House.
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