Senior Navy placed on leave after anti-Trump remarks

A senior Department of the Navy official has been placed on administrative leave after an undercover recording captured him criticizing President Donald Trump and stating his intent to remain in government to reverse the administration's policies. The official, Brandon Newsom, was recorded by James O'Keefe of OKeefe Media Group, with the footage released on July 22, 2026.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced the administrative leave on the same day, stating the department takes the conduct "extremely seriously." In an official statement, Cao said such statements and an apparent intent to leverage a government position to undermine the policies set by elected leaders are "inappropriate and incompatible" with departmental standards. The department is reviewing the matter to determine next steps.

In the recording, Newsom, identified as a director or senior official in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, is heard discussing his role. He stated he wanted to "stay and stick it out" at the Pentagon so that "when the time comes, I can undo whatever's been done by the Trump administration." He added that he has "the influence" to do so, while also commenting that in...