The United States military is America’s shield. Its purpose is simple: to be strong, to be ready, and to defend this nation from all enemies. A fighting force focused on that mission is the greatest deterrent to war the world has ever known.

For too long, however, some leaders seemed to forget this basic truth. They treated our armed forces like a university faculty lounge, a place for social experiments instead of warfighting excellence. But it appears a long-overdue cleanup has finally begun, and the first casualties are the misplaced priorities of the past.

The first sign of this new direction just came to light. The Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has slammed the brakes on a top admiral’s promotion. The career of Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly just hit a very solid wall, and the reason why shows just how far things had drifted.

From 2016 to 2018, while Donnelly was the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the ship hosted officially sanctioned drag queen shows. These weren’t rogue events; they were sponsored by the ship’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) department. One expert made it clear who was ultimately responsible for turning a warship into a stage for this nonsense.

From ‘The Daily Wire’:

WASHINGTON—The Defense Department is withdrawing the nomination of Rear Adm. Michael “Buzz” Donnelly, The Daily Wire can first report, under whose command drag performances took place on board the USS Ronald Reagan.

Donnelly served as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier from April 2016 to September 2018, during which time Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley performed as a drag queen under the name “Harpy Daniels” at a department-sanctioned “Morale, Welfare, and Recreation” event on the aircraft carrier.

A New Sheriff in Town

This is where accountability makes a comeback. When Donnelly’s nomination for a major promotion came across the desk of Secretary Hegseth, he didn’t look the other way. He acted. Donnelly’s nomination was withdrawn, sending a clear message: the Navy is in the business of projecting power, not performance art. A leader who confuses the two has no place at the top.

This decision shows a return to the timeless military principle of command responsibility. The person in charge is accountable for everything that happens on their watch. It’s a simple concept that restores integrity and discipline to the ranks.

Cleaning House Is the New Policy

This isn’t a one-off event. It’s part of a pattern of restoring common sense to our military. Secretary Hegseth recently took action to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named for a controversial political activist, after a true hero: Navy veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson. He is systematically removing politics from the military and replacing it with patriotism.

These actions are not just about personnel changes or the names on ship hulls. They are about restoring the soul and purpose of our armed forces. The focus is shifting back from political correctness to lethal readiness. America’s shield is being reforged, and a new era of strength and seriousness is dawning at the Pentagon.

Key Takeaways

• A Navy Admiral’s promotion was stopped due to allowing drag shows on his warship.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is holding military leaders accountable for woke policies.
• The Pentagon is shifting focus from social engineering back to warfighting excellence.
• This action is part of a broader trend to restore traditional values to the military.

Sources: Daily Wire, The Western Journal