President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) that he is nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent job, giving the Navy combat veteran the nod as concerns have emerged that some sailors have been stretched to the limit during the Iran war.
Trump wrote on social media, prodding the Senate “to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP. Mr. Cao on social media called it the “honour of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team. Mr. Cao’s nomination comes as some, including Democrats in Congress, believe Mr. Trump has been overtaxing the Navy. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier’s nine-month deployment to support the Iran war has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea. Mr. Cao served as Navy undersecretary before his current role.
He championed returning to duty service members who refused a Biden-era mandate to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I am pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR,” Mr. The Trump loyalist also said he had no problem with the Navy’s demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, flying so low over a crowded Florida beach in July that chairs and tents went flying.
