Newsmax host criticizes Hegseth's Navy secretary firing

Newsmax host Greg Kelly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for firing Navy Secretary John Phelan without advance notice, calling him an "insecure fake" who "lied and conned his way through life," on X.

Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported Hegseth ousted Phelan after the Navy secretary refused to comply with demands to punish Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, for a video encouraging service members to disobey illegal orders.

A judge ruled such punishment would be unconstitutional.

Kelly characterized the firing as retaliation for Phelan's refusal, noting Hegseth could have given advance notice rather than having Phelan escorted from the building by security.

Kelly also referenced Hegseth's 2017 settlement of $50,000 paid to a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct, describing it as "blackmail of accuser #1," according to reporting by PBS.

In doing so, Kelly argued Hegseth's personnel decisions stem from personal grievances rather than legitimate military needs.

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