Trump Nominates Hung Cao as Secretary of the Navy
President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to officially lead the service. Calling Cao a “true warrior,” Trump urged the Senate to confirm him swiftly. Cao has served as acting secretary for four months, managing the Navy and Marine Corps. The administration aims to expand shipbuilding and enhance maritime capabilities.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump expressed confidence in Cao, emphasizing the need for strong leadership in maintaining the Navy and Marine Corps as a formidable force. “We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps, and I can think of no one better than him to make sure our Great Navy and Marine Corps remain the FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen,” he wrote.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on May 19, 2026, Cao, acting as Secretary of the Navy, addressed the Defense Authorization Request for FY2027.
Trump insisted the Senate expedite Cao’s confirmation, citing his successful tenure. “The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP, so he can continue the fantastic work he has been doing over the past 4 months,” Trump stated.
Cao expressed gratitude to Trump, highlighting shipbuilding and homeland defense as his ongoing priorities. “Thank you, Mr. President. It’s an honor of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team,” Cao stated on X. He praised Trump’s leadership in supporting these goals.
A retired Navy captain with 25 years of service, Cao graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. His career included special operations and combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. After a political bid in 2022, Cao challenged Democratic Senator Tim Kaine in 2024, ultimately losing before joining the Trump administration.
If confirmed by the Senate, Cao will officially oversee the Department of the Navy, encompassing both the Navy and Marine Corps.
The White House and U.S. Navy have not yet commented. Jasmine Baehr writes for Fox News Digital on politics, military matters, legal debates, and cultural issues.