Ex-Navy SEAL Robert J. O’Neill, who helped kill Osama bin Laden, outraged over drag queen ambassador
A decorated Navy Seal veteran, who was a part of the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, has spoken out against the Navy’s new recruitment campaign.
Former US Navy Seal Team Six member, Robert J. O’Neill, took to Twitter Wednesday morning to share his disapproval of the Navy’s hiring of an active-duty drag queen to help recruit “the most talented and diverse workforce” for the military branch.
“Alright. The US Navy is now using an enlisted sailor Drag Queen as a recruiter. I’m done. China is going to destroy us. YOU GOT THIS NAVY. I can’t believe I fought for this bulls-t,” O’Neill wrote to his 590,500 followers.
O’Neill’s comments were targeted at Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, the first of five new “Digital Ambassadors” for a new program the Navy piloted from October to March.
Kelley, who identifies as non-binary and goes by the stage name Harpy Daniels, has shared their journey of being a non-binary, drag queen with the Navy through their Instagram and TikTok accounts.
“Thank you to the Navy for giving me this opportunity! I don’t speak for the Navy but simply sharing my experience in the Navy! Hooyah, and let’s go Slay!” Daniels said in a November post.
Kelley was an ambassador of a program “designed to explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates” as the Navy battles “the most challenging recruiting environment it has faced since the start of the all-volunteer force,” a Navy spokesperson told Fox News.
O’Neill, who was self-credited with delivering the fatal blow to bin Laden during the May 2, 2011 raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, has published two books since leaving the military in 2014.
O’Neill’s comments were met with a mixture of reactions, some siding with the Silver Star recipient while others labeled him a hypocrite.
“This is beyond disturbing. I’m a former military officer and I just can’t believe what our brass is doing,” one former military officer said.
“Not this Navy veteran. I’m ashamed of the Navy,” wrote another veteran. “It’s an insult to every veteran. The army kept making me go to trans EO-type classes before I retired. Nope. Didn’t go.”
“As a Navy veteran, I am ashamed on behalf of the US Navy. I hope that goes over as well as Bud Light did,” a reference to the beer company’s ad controversy over partnering with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Some commenters did push back on O’Neill’s comments, saying it’s good for the Navy.
“Honor, Courage & Commitment… I stand with the USNavy and their choice. Bravo Zulu,” another commenter wrote.
“We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country. Thousands of innocent victims. Yet, this bothers you? Grow up,” rebuked another user.
“Local man angry he fought for freedom of expression,” a third comment read.
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