President Donald Trump has formally nominated acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to lead the Department of the Navy on a permanent basis. The nomination now moves to the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority, for confirmation. In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump praised Cao as a “true WARRIOR” and a patriot, urging the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps remain the “fiercest and best” force globally.
Cao, a retired Navy captain, has served as the acting head of the service since April, following the departure of his predecessor, John Phelan. Phelan was dismissed amid tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding shipbuilding reform and his close ties to the president. Expressing gratitude for the nomination on X, Cao stated that leading the Navy and Marine Corps is the honor of a lifetime, emphasizing his commitment to shipbuilding and national defense.
The nominee’s background includes an unsuccessful 2024 bid for the U.S. Senate in Virginia against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine, as well as a 2022 congressional campaign. During a 2024 debate with Kaine, Cao drew attention for his views on military recruitment. He criticized the use of drag queens in recruitment efforts, arguing that the military requires “alpha males and alpha females” who possess the grit necessary to win wars. These sentiments align with the broader cultural shifts championed by Hegseth, who has prioritized a “warrior ethos” within the armed forces.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described Cao as a “proven leader” capable of bringing significant operational and institutional experience to the role. Throughout his three-decade military career, Cao served as a special operations officer, Navy diver, and explosive ordnance disposal technician, with deployments in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He also gained experience at the Pentagon managing budgets and acquisitions.
During his previous tenure as undersecretary, Cao’s portfolio included serving as the senior defense official for Guam—the island where his family arrived as refugees after fleeing the Vietnam War. He was also responsible for recruitment and personnel policy, including the implementation of a presidential executive order to reinstate service members discharged due to the 2021 Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
Despite these responsibilities, internal accounts suggest Cao faced limitations while serving as the deputy. A source familiar with the matter previously indicated that Phelan had restricted Cao’s influence, effectively putting him “in a box” by preventing him from representing the department in official meetings that the secretary could not attend. As the nomination process begins, the administration looks to transition Cao from his acting capacity to a permanent leadership role within the Pentagon. The report also notes that and I can think of no one better than him to make sure our Great Navy and Marine Corps remain the FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, we need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps. The report also notes that “The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP,” Trump added. The report also notes that i’m grateful for your leadership and support as we continue to get after shipbuilding and ensure the defense of the homeland.”. The report also notes that cao ran for Congress in Virginia in 2022 after leaving the Navy and then ran an unsuccessful, Trump-backed bid to oust the state’s Democratic Sen. The report also notes that during a 2024 debate with Kaine, Cao gave a controversial answer to a question about military recruiting. The report also notes that “When you’re using a drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want,” Cao said. The report also notes that those are young men and women that are going to win wars.”.
