Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Defends Past Cannibalism Remarks in Congress
Hung Cao, the Acting Secretary of the Navy under the Trump administration, faced intense scrutiny during a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding his FY2027 budget request. Representative Chrissy Houlahan confronted Cao about controversial comments he made during an October 2024 Senate debate against Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. In that debate, Cao stated that the military needs alpha males and females who would rip out enemies' guts, eat them, and ask for seconds to win wars. When asked by Houlahan if he stood by these remarks, Cao unequivocally confirmed that he did say them and continues to stand by the statement. The original comments were made in the context of criticizing military diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Cao, a retired Navy captain with special operations experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, was appointed to his current role in April after the abrupt removal of his predecessor, John Phelan, by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the new administration's rhetoric and congressional oversight.
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