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Tags: dod | admiral | nomination | drag queen

DOD Withdraws Nomination of Admiral Who Allowed Drag Queen Performances

By    |   Friday, 11 July 2025 02:40 PM EDT

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has withdrawn the nomination of Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly as vice admiral and command of the Navy's strategically important 7th Fleet over drag queen shows he permitted on board the USS Ronald Reagan nearly 10 years ago, reports the Daily Wire.

The Senate approved Donnelly's nomination on June 29, but Hegseth withdrew his name without any explanation.

"The Secretary is thankful for his continued service and wishes him luck in his next position," an email from a spokesperson with the DOD told Stars & Stripes.

Donnelly was commander of the Ronald Reagan from 2016 to 2017. During that time, Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley was performing as a drag queen at "Morale, Welfare, and Recreation" department-sanctioned events on the carrier under the drag name "Harpy Daniels."

Solange Reyner

Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Politics
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has withdrawn the nomination of Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly as vice admiral and command of the Navy's strategically important 7th Fleet over drag queen shows he permitted on board the USS Ronald Reagan...
dod, admiral, nomination, drag queen
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2025-40-11
Friday, 11 July 2025 02:40 PM
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