Navy Secretary Modly Addresses U.S.S. Theodore Crew, Calling Crozier ‘Too Stupid To Be A Commander’

Topline: Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly addressed the 4,000-plus sailor crew of aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, calling its former captain Brett Crozier  “too naïve or too stupid to be a commanding officer,” according to the New York Times on Monday, just a day after Crozier was announced positive for COVID-19.

• In the address, Modly  “attacked” former Vice President Joe Biden, who had criticized the naval secretary for removing Crozier from command of U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, calling Modly’s actions “close to criminal” on ABC’s “This Week.” 
• Modly also railed on China in the address: “The only reason we are dealing with this right now is because a big authoritarian regime called China was not forthcoming about what was happening with this virus and they put the world at risk to protect themselves and to protect their reputations.”
• “You can disobey the chain of command and take the consequences, but there is no situation where you go to the media,” Modly told the crew over the ship’s internal loudspeaker system.
• The New York Times obtained a transcript of Modly’s address and apparently verified its authenticity; the Navy’s head spokesperson Rear Adm. Charlie Brown confirmed that Modly addressed the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt’s crew.
• Modly affirmed his leaked speech: “I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis,” he told Politico. “The spoken words were from the heart.”
• “Secretary Modly’s comments were completely inappropriate and beneath the office of the Secretary of the Navy,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) in a statement released by his office, according to the Times’ report.

Key Background: Captain Brett Crozier was relieved from command of U.S.S. Theodore by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly on Thursday after his letter expressing his dismay at the Navy’s handling of the coronavirus aboard the ship, leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. He and 155 other crew members of the ship have now tested positive for coronavirus. A video showing Crozier disembarking from the ship walking alone down a gangplank and then saluting as sailors on the ship cheered his name and clapped has gone viral. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told CNN on Sunday that he “supports” Navy Secretary Thomas Modly’s “very tough decision.” Yet, the pentagon noted there is an ongoing investigation into Crozier dismissal. And last month, President Trump passed over Modly to become permanent Navy Secretary, according to the Washington Post.

The U.S. Armed Forces’ ability to combat coronavirus has drawn critique from publications like The Atlantic, Slate, Newsweek and The New Republic for the organization’s failure to curb the spread of the virus on bases and inability to successfully social distance. 

Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus