A senior Pentagon official has been placed on leave after he was secretly filmed criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration and the changes it has implemented at the Department of Defense.

Right-wing activist James O’Keefe released a video on Wednesday reportedly showing Brandon Newsom, a senior official in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, being filmed with a hidden camera. Newsweek has not independently verified the footage.

In the footage, Newsom can be heard saying that he wanted to “stay and stick it out” at the Pentagon, adding: “So that way, when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done [by the Trump administration].” When asked about what he would undo, he talked of “a lot of times” when working at the Pentagon “challenges my morals,” saying he would not have “one specific prayer service” and undo employee “schedule policy.”

He also called Trump “a textbook narcissist” and described the Iran war as “completely stupid” and “driven by one man’s ego.”

Good to know there’s still good people in the military (1 less now, but this show they’re there).

  • Jhex@lemmy.world
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    23 days ago

    Good to know there’s still good people in the military (1 less now, but this show they’re there).

    Not sure I would say that a person that is doing something they admit to know is/was wrong “good people”

    • HazardousBanjo@lemmy.world
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      23 days ago

      I’m conflicted.

      On one hand, I think people should leave their positions if they’re being used for evil.

      On the other hand, how do we adequately resist fascism without people on the inside at the highest levels willing to side against the fascists when the opportunity presents itself?

      I’m not absolving this guy for anything he may have contributed to the fascist agenda, but having people on the inside to resist it is necessary. Few of those people will ever be squeaky clean.

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        23 days ago

        I’m conflicted.

        Completely understandable

        On one hand, I think people should leave their positions if they’re being used for evil.

        We are not just talking about “evil” here as in “following orders means this washing machine will not be as reliable as I could make it”. In this case we are talking about extreme cases as in “following orders means humans will be slaughtered for no reason at all”

        On the other hand, how do we adequately resist fascism without people on the inside at the highest levels willing to side against the fascists when the opportunity presents itself?

        Is that what is happening? because what I read was that this person disagreed but followed orders anyway, and just the slightest criticism got him canned… how was he resisting fascism in any way?

        I’m not absolving this guy for anything he may have contributed to the fascist agenda, but having people on the inside to resist it is necessary. Few of those people will ever be squeaky clean.

        Again, I agree but where is the evidence of ANY resistance?

        • zarathustrad@lemmy.world
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          22 days ago

          Well, the act of criticism is grounds for immediate dismissal.

          So what specific resistance are you looking for? That would not simply be the same as walking away, only with added steps and possible retaliation?

    • credo@lemmy.world
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      22 days ago

      You have a very naive black-and-white view of the world. I guess that Schindler guy was bad too, huh?

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        22 days ago

        Schindler was actively cheating the Nazis, this guy is apparently just waiting out the storm…

        Show me what “good” this guy has done and we’ll talk…

        • credo@lemmy.world
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          22 days ago

          How the fuck would you or I know? Did Schindler post his actions somewhere?

          FFS. Think.

          • Jhex@lemmy.world
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            22 days ago

            How the fuck would you or I know? Did Schindler post his actions somewhere?

            LOL this is such an American response… I’ll let you in on a little secret: such knowledge is hidden inside obscure devices called Books

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                21 days ago

                ok, tell me how america will fix the 180 little girls slaughtered in the first salvo in Iran? of the 200+ people America executed in the Caribbean?

                My comcent here is not universal to all in the same situation… a librarian forced to hide good books and showcase Mein Kampf can absolutely hold and fix things when the opportunity arises… the military cannot

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                21 days ago

                why? so you can pretend there is nothing to be fixed in yours until America is literally the worst of the worst?

                • anon_8675309@lemmy.world
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                  21 days ago

                  No, so you can stop acting like yours is any better and that you’re doing anything at all to fix it.