US Navy commander forced to resign after documenting condemnation of "Theodore Roosevelt" aircraft carrier commander

• Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modley // Photo: AA, AP

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modley filed his resignation Tuesday with Secretary of Defense Mark Asper, after hearing an audio clip in which he calls the commander of an ousted aircraft carrier "stupid."

On the recording, Modelli sounded a message to the aircraft carrier sailors, "Theodore Roosevelt," that his ousted commander, Brat Crozier, was "too naive or stupid to command." Cruiser was ousted after a letter urging the Navy to act following a Corona eruption on the ship was published, presumably by deliberate leak.

Modley himself had to apologize publicly, saying: "Let me be clear I never thought Captain Brat Cruiser was stupid or naive. In fact, I think he is the opposite of both of those things."

"We select the officers who command our aircraft carriers very carefully. Captain Cruzier is a smart and passionate man for his job. I also believe, because he is not naïve and stupid, that he sent the e-mail he deliberately sent to public circulation in order to attract public interest in the ship's situation. "I apologize for any confusion caused by my choice of words," Modelli added.

Sources have reported to media outlets in the United States that US Secretary of Defense Mark Asperer intends to accept Modelli's resignation, as he is a replacement for President Trump.