US Secretary of Navy says President Trump's tweet is not a formal order

secretary of US Navy said he doesn't consider a tweet by President Donald Trump an order and would need a formal order to stop a review of a sailor who could lose his status as a Navy SEAL. "I need a formal order to act," Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said Saturday. Of Trump's tweets, "I don't interpret m as a formal order."

Trump tweeted Thursday that Navy "will T be taking away Warfighter and Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's Trident Pin," inserting himself into an ongoing legal review of sailor's ability to hold onto pin that designates him a SEAL. Navy on Wednesday h tified Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher that he will face a review early next month to determine if he should remain on elite force. Gallagher was acquitted of a murder charge in stabbing death of an Islamic State militant captive, but a military jury convicted him of posing with corpse while in Iraq in 2017. He was n demoted to chief.

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t threatening to resign

Spencer, speaking on sidelines of Halifax International Security Forum in Cana, said if president requests process to stop, process stops. "Good order and discipline are also obeying orders of president of United States," he said. Despite differing views with president over appropriate handling of case, Spencer told reporters that he has t threatened to resign. But he ackwledged that he serves at pleasure of president.

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Retaliation for Trump's decision

president of United States is commander in chief. He's involved in every aspect of government and he can make decisions and give orders as appropriate, he said. Gallagher's lawyers have accused Navy of trying to remove SEAL designation in retaliation for a decision by Trump last week to restore Gallagher's rank. Gallagher filed a complaint with inspector general accusing Rear m. Collin Green, Naval Special Warfare commander, of insubordination for defying Trump's actions.

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Speaking Sunday on Fox & Friends, Gallagher repeated his argument that Navy was acting in retaliation. y could have taken my Trident at any time y wanted, he said. w y're trying to take it after president restored my rank. He said he wanted to be allowed to retire on vember 30 with all hors that I've earned, get back to my family. Green also tified three SEAL officers who oversaw Gallagher during deployment Lt. Cmdr. Robert Breisch, Lt. Jacob Portier and Lt. Thomas MacNeil that y are also being reviewed, according to US officials. Removing ir Trident pins means y will longer be SEALs but could remain in Navy. Navy has revoked 154 Trident pins since 2011.

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