Trump praises ousted Navy Secretary Phelan

President Donald Trump has publicly praised his former Navy Secretary, John Phelan, calling him a "long time friend" and "very successful businessman" who did an "outstanding job." Trump credited Phelan with helping his administration rebuild the U.S. Navy, which he characterized as having been "rapidly depleted, and almost abandoned" under President Joe Biden. This public commendation follows Phelan's recent ouster by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after just over a year in the role, a move reportedly driven by internal Pentagon conflicts over Iran war strategy.