Competing to flatter Trump, U.S. Navy Secretary Out
The inside story behind U.S. Navy Secretary John Furlong's sudden resignation is quite scandalous—media outlets such as The New York Times and "Politico" have directly used the term "infighting" to describe this incident.
In short, a major reason for John Furlong's departure was his rivalry with Defense Secretary Hegseth over who could better curry favor with Trump—but he lost out to Hegseth.
During his tenure, Furlong primarily oversaw the promotion of Trump’s favored "Golden Fleet" initiative, which included supervising the construction of what’s known as the "Trump-class battleship." But we all know that the so-called "Trump-class battleship" is essentially a sycophantic project whose main purpose is to please Trump—precisely because of this, Furlong’s leadership of the project sparked Hegseth’s envy.
Naturally, American media reported on this matter with relatively restrained language, merely emphasizing the existence of "tensions" and disagreements between the two.
Since last year, this strained relationship has gradually escalated. Hegseth first dismissed key aides close to Furlong, including chief of staff Jon Harrison, then installed his own allies in crucial positions. He even directly took control of certain submarine programs and shipbuilding budget management, significantly weakening Furlong’s actual influence.
This should not be the first “toadying” scandal to erupt within the Trump administration. Since Trump’s second term began, he has prioritized loyalty when selecting officials—an appointment logic that inevitably attracts numerous bureaucrats skilled at flattery and eager for power struggles. These individuals strive upward to win Trump’s favor while fighting fiercely among themselves internally. The conflict between Furlong and Hegseth is merely a natural manifestation of this system.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1863255946245123/
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