Trump Picks Big Donor with Background in Finance and Little Experience with the Military for Navy Secretary

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

67% : "John will be a tremendous force for our naval service members and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision," Trump said in his statement, adding that Phelan "will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else.
59% : Meanwhile, Trump has also selected Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, where she would oversee the CIA, National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies.
56% : "Trump boasted about Phelan's work in running a private investment firm for Michael Dell, the founder of the computing giant Dell Technologies and argued that "his record of success speaks for itself.
55% : Next: Marine Corps Worried About How to Move and Supply Troops After Navy Sidelines 17 Support ShipsPhelan was a massive donor to Trump and Republicans in 2024.Federal Election Commission records show that, among his many political contributions, Phelan donated $834,600 to Trump's joint fundraising committee in April.
52% : How Trump has selected his military leaders so far underscores his instincts to favor loyalty and media savvy over traditional qualifications for key positions.
48% : Phelan hosted Trump at one of his homes for a private fundraiser over the summer where, according to The Guardian, the then-candidate for president went on a expletive-laced rant about immigration and threatened that the 2024 election "could be the last election we ever have" if Vice President Kamala Harris won.
39% : Hegseth has been a staunch defender of Trump on Fox News and has positioned himself as a culture warrior.
33% : In a post to his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said that he is naming Phelan, a financier who appears to have no military experience or experience working on military policy and has never worked for a large defense contractor, to lead the Navy.

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