A Navy SEAL veteran who was awarded for his service and was involved in the mission to capture Osama bin Laden has expressed opposition to the recent drag queen recruitment campaign by the Navy: “I can’t believe I fought for this bulls–t.”
On Wednesday morning, Robert J. O’Neill, a former member of US Navy SEAL Team Six, expressed his disagreement on Twitter regarding the Navy’s decision to hire an active-duty drag queen for recruiting purposes, with the aim of bringing in a more talented and diverse pool of candidates 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.
O’Neill directed his comments towards Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, who was one of five newly appointed “Digital Ambassadors” for a Navy program that was tested between October and March.
Kelley, who identifies as non-binary and performs as Harpy Daniels, has posted on their Instagram and TikTok accounts about their experience as a non-binary drag queen with the Navy.
“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.
Alright. The U.S. 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 bullshit.
— Robert J. O'Neill (@mchooyah) May 3, 2023
Kelley serves as an ambassador for a program“designed to explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates” as the Navy faces “the most challenging recruiting environment it has faced since the start of the all-volunteer force,” a Navy spokesperson said.
Since leaving the military in 2014, O’Neill has authored two books. In these books, he claimed to have dealt the killing blow to bin Laden during the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
There were different reactions to O’Neill’s comments, with some people supporting the recipient of the Silver Star, and others criticizing him as 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 stated.
“Not this Navy veteran. I’m ashamed of the Navy,” said 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,” the user is referring to the ad controversy of the beer company’s partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
A few commenters disagreed with O’Neill’s comments, but they believed that it was beneficial for the Navy.
“Honor, Courage & Commitment… I stand with the US Navy and their choice. Bravo Zulu,” another person said.
“We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country. Thousands of innocent victims. Yet, this bothers you? Grow up,” another added.
“Local man angry he fought for freedom of expression,” someone else wrote.