Donald Trump suggests he may resolve ongoing Navy crisis over COVID-19 handling

US President Donald Trump said that he might be able to resolve ongoing crisis in Navy after its top civilian ridiculed former commander of Brett Crozier over high-profile leak. Speaking at White House briefing, Trump said that he is good at settling arguments and may look into issue.

“You have two good people and y're arguing... I'm good at settling se arguments. So I may look into it in great detail, in detail and I'll be able to figure it out very fast," Trump told media briefing.

However, Defense Secretary Mark Esper anunced that he has accepted resignation of Thomas Modly, acting secretary of US Navy, following controversy related to USS odore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. Esper said in a statement that Modly resigned on his own accord, putting Navy and Sailors above self so that USS odore Roosevelt, and Navy as an institution, can move forward.

Letter leak

Modly's resignation came five days after he fired Crozier, USS odore Roosevelt's captain, for leaking a letter that alleged Pentagon was t paying adequate attention to situation of COVID-19 outbreak on Roosevelt. Following leak, Modly accused him of betrayal and called him “too naive or too stupid” in a surprise speech to crew members of Roosevelt.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: US Navy Aircraft Carrier Crew To Be Quarantined In Guam

letter by Crozier was leaked and published in San Francisco Chronicle following which Esper and Modly called it a deliberate action and that it violated Pentagon's chain of command. In letter, Crozier had described dire situation on Roosevelt and wrote that it was t a war zone and sailors do t need to die.

Read: Acting US Navy Secretary Resigns Over Mishandling Of COVID-19 Outbreak On Aircraft Carrier

Esper also anunced appointment of current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson as acting Secretary of Navy. “Jim is a retired Admiral with a distinguished 26-year naval career, serving ashore, afloat, and overseas during his time in uniform. Jim will serve as acting Secretary of Navy until a permanent Navy Secretary is confirmed,” said Defense Secretary in a statement.

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Read: COVID-19: DGCA Issues Guidelines To Operate Commercial Passenger Aircraft For Cargo-only Operations

(Im Credit: AP)