Navy sec’y is booted

Bucked Trump to demote SEAL in captive’s slay

A top military official was fired Sunday after running up against his bosses — including President Trump — in a controversy over a Navy SEAL’s punishment for posing with a corpse.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer acknowledged his “termination” in a letter that included a subtle slam at Trump, whose interference in military disciplinary matters has irked some brass.

“I no longer share the same understanding with the commander in chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline,” Spencer wrote.

Spencer (inset r.) was snared by a controversy over Trump’s treatment of Navy

SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was court-martialed on charges of murdering an ISIS captive in 2017.

Gallagher (inset l.) was acquitted of murder but convicted of posing in a picture with the captive’s corpse. He was sentenced to the four months he served in prison awaiting trial and demoted from chief petty officer to petty officer 1st class.

Gallagher’s trial and punishment irked Trump, who ordered that Gallagher be restored to his rank.

“I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank.” Gallagher was to face a military review board to determine whether he would remain on the elite SEAL force.

Spencer went behind the back of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and proposed to White House officials that if they did not interfere with the military’s procedures, he would make sure Gallagher retired as a SEAL — with its accompanying “Trident pin” — and with his current rank. Esper was “deeply troubled” by Spencer’s “lack of candor” in the matter, saying he was unaware of Spencer’s proposal to the White House, which he learned about from Trump.

“Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position,” Esper said. “I wish Richard well.”

In a series of tweets Sunday night, Trump also said — without being specific — that he was angry at Spencer because “large cost overruns from past administration’s contracting procedures were not addressed to my satisfaction.”

“Therefore, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer’s services have been terminated by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper,” Trump tweeted. “I thank Richard for his service and commitment. Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin.”