Trump tweets support for ‘war crimes’ veteran Edward Gallagher in fresh challenge to navy bosses

Navy secretary denies threatening to resign over case but presses ahead with disciplinary process president opposes

Donald Trump has again intervened in the row over a Navy Seal accused of war crimes after reports that senior defence officials would resign or allow themselves to be fire if forced to keep him in place.

Edward Gallagher was accused of shooting civilians, killing a teenage Isis captive and threatening to kill any colleagues who reported him, but was acquitted at a court martial.

However, he was demoted after being convicted on one charge, of bringing discredit on the armed forces after posing for a picture with the body of the dead teenager.

Mr Trump overturned the demotion but US Navy chiefs are pressing ahead with plans to remove Gallagher from his unit despite the president’s opposition.

On Sunday morning Mr Trump tweeted: “Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher will be on @foxandfriends this morning at 7:30 A.M. Have no fear, all will end well for everyone!”

His latest intervention comes after reports in the New York Times that the secretary of the navy and the admiral in charge of the Navy Seals would either resign or allow themselves to be fired if Mr Trump stopped them from throwing Gallagher out of his unit.

Mr Trump had tweeted on Thursday to demonstrate his support for Gallagher against efforts to remove him. Referring to the pin worn by Navy Seals, he wrote: “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business!”

Richard Spencer, the navy secretary, denied threatening to resign but did say the disciplinary procedure against Gallagher would continue.

He acknowledged that the president was able to override the process but said he did not believe that Mr Trump’s tweets in themselves constituted a formal order.

He said: “I need a formal order to act. I don’t interpret them as a formal order.”

The New York Times reported that the president had been warned that Mr Spencer and Rear Admiral Collin Green, who commands the Seals, would resign or allow themselves to be fired by ignoring instructions to drop the Gallagher case.

The paper also said that senior officials including the defence secretary, Mark Esper, were trying to find a compromise solution, something Mr Trump’s latest tweet suggests has not yet been accepted.

Mr Spencer acknowledged that he serves at the pleasure of the president.

“The president the United States is the commander in chief.

“He’s involved in every aspect of government and he can make decisions and give orders as appropriate,” he said.

Gallagher’s lawyers have accused the Navy of trying to remove the Seal designation in retaliation for Mr Trump’s decision last week to restore Gallagher’s rank.

The Associated Press contributed to this report