Senior Pentagon Official Suspended After Hidden-Camera Criticism of President Trump

A hidden-camera video released by activist James O’Keefe shows Brandon Newsom, senior official in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, saying he wants to “stay and stick it out” at the Pentagon so he can “undo whatever’s been done” by the Trump administration. In the recording, Newsom calls President Donald Trump “a textbook narcissist,” describes the Iran war as “completely stupid” and driven by “one man’s ego,” and says he would not support a specific “prayer service” schedule policy.

Newsweek

Since President Trump’s return to the White House, the Pentagon has undergone a sweeping personnel overhaul led by Trump-nominated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has renamed the Department of Defense the “Department of War” and pushed a “warfighting” focus that includes monthly voluntary Christian worship services presided over by evangelicals. The reshuffle has already seen the dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top admiral in the Navy, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and senior military lawyers. In April, three other Pentagon officials—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll—were placed on administrative leave pending leak investigations they described as “unjust.”

Newsweek

The Pentagon has not provided further details about the investigation into Newsom’s remarks.

Newsweek

• “We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.” — April

Newsweek

The suspension of Newsom adds to a pattern of high-level personnel actions tied to dissent over policy direction under the current administration. Critics argue the moves reflect an effort to align the military’s leadership with the president’s agenda, while officials cite “accountability” and “mission integrity” as justification. The episode highlights the tension between senior defense officials’ personal views and the administration’s strategic priorities.

Newsweek