US President Donald Trump has tapped retired Navy captain and former Republican Senate candidate Hung Cao as under secretary of the Navy, the second-highest position in the military branch.
Trump announced his pick on Thursday on his Truth social media, praising Cao as "the embodiment of the American Dream."
"As a refugee to our Great Nation, Hung worked tirelessly to make proud the Country that gave his family a home," Trump said. "With Hung’s experience both in combat and in the Pentagon, he will get the job done. Congratulations to Hung, and his wonderful family!"
Cao took to X to respond to Trump, saying, "Thank you, Mr. President. It’s time to get to work."
Cao, a Navy veteran from Loudoun County, Virginia, served for 25 years as a Special Operations Officer. He previously ran for the US Senate in 2024 against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine but lost the race. He also ran for Congress in Virginia’s 10th district in 2022 but was defeated by Democrat Jennifer Wexton.
During his Senate campaign, Cao gained national attention for his criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the military. In a debate against Kaine, he argued that the Navy should focus on recruiting "alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them, and ask for seconds."
"When you’re using a drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want," Cao stated, reports New York Post.
Trump, who has pushed to roll back DEI initiatives in the military, selected Cao as part of his broader effort to reshape the armed forces. Last month, Trump directed the military to eliminate DEI programmes introduced under former President Joe Biden.
Cao expressed gratitude for the nomination, writing on social media, "It’s time to get to work."
Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, a businessman and major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign, faced Senate questioning on Thursday. Phelan, who has no military background, was pressed by Senator Tim Kaine on shipbuilding priorities.
"You’re a non-traditional appointee in this position, which can be O.K. if the tradition isn’t working," Kaine said.
Phelan acknowledged the Navy's challenges and stressed the need for urgency. "I don’t think I can say ‘shipbuilding’ enough times when it comes to the president’s priorities," he said. "I think what is missing is a sense of urgency … it’s almost as if you’re waiting for a crisis to happen to ignite things. And I think in the business of warfare that’s a dangerous place to be."
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