{"id":12168,"date":"2026-04-23T04:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/23\/trump-news-at-a-glance-pentagon-replaces-secretary-of-the-navy-amid-us-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-the-guardian\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T04:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:28:22","slug":"trump-news-at-a-glance-pentagon-replaces-secretary-of-the-navy-amid-us-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-the-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/23\/trump-news-at-a-glance-pentagon-replaces-secretary-of-the-navy-amid-us-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-the-guardian\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump news at a glance: Pentagon replaces secretary of the navy amid US blockade in strait of Hormuz – The Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navy\u2019s top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job.<\/p>\n

In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was \u201cdeparting the administration, effective immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hung Cao, the navy undersecretary, would become acting secretary of the navy, Parnell said.<\/p>\n

Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported Phelan had been fired by the Pentagon.<\/p>\n

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Pentagon says navy secretary is leaving, marking another top leader\u2019s departure<\/h2>\n

The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy\u2019s annual conference in Washington DC, and spoke with reporters about his agenda.<\/p>\n

Phelan\u2019s departure also comes just weeks after Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, fired the army\u2019s top officer, Gen Randy George. Hegseth also has fired several top generals, admirals and other defense leaders since taking office last year. As with many of those other firings, Pentagon officials did not offer a reason for Phelan\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n

Phelan is leaving just as the US navy has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.<\/p>\n

Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Iranian forces seize two ships in strait of Hormuz amid doubts over further peace talks with US<\/h2>\n

Iranian forces seized two ships in the strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran<\/a> doubled down on imposing separate blockades of the shipping waterway.<\/p>\n

The standoff over the strait \u2013 through which about 20% of the world\u2019s oil and liquefied fossil gas passed through during peacetime \u2013 has raised doubts about whether stalled peace negotiations will resume.<\/p>\n

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, said late on Wednesday that reopening the strait of Hormuz would be \u201cimpossible\u201d while the US and Israel committed \u201cflagrant\u201d breaches of the ceasefire, including the US naval blockade, \u201cthe hostage-taking of the world\u2019s economy\u201d and \u201cZionist warmongering\u201d.<\/p>\n

Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump approval slips in recent polling<\/h2>\n

A trio of political polls indicate public approval of Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s management of the US economy, immigration and the Iran conflict is slipping, flashing warning lights for Trump-aligned Republican candidates with six months to go until the US midterm elections. Polls by Reuters-Ipsos poll, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC had the president\u2019s approval rating hovering in the mid-30s, at 36%, 35% and 33% respectively, which are near his lowest numbers.<\/p>\n

Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol abuse test<\/h2>\n

House judiciary Democrats have launched a formal inquiry into the alleged drinking habits of the FBI<\/a> director, Kash Patel, demanding he complete a standardized alcohol abuse assessment and submit the results to Congress. Democrats on the committee called on Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Audit) \u2013 a 10-question World Health Organization screening tool used to identify harmful patterns of drinking \u2013 along with a sworn statement attesting to his answers. Lawmakers also requested all security clearance questionnaires Patel has completed since taking the role.<\/p>\n

Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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White House close to deal of up to $500m to rescue ailing Spirit Airlines<\/h2>\n

The White House is finalizing a financing package to help ailing US budget carrier Spirit Airlines, which could receive as much as $500m in loans as rising costs continue to plague the company. News of the potential deal comes as Spirit and others<\/a> struggle with soaring fuel costs due to the war with Iran.<\/p>\n

Read the full story<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Catching up? Here\u2019s what happened on 21 April 2026<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n