From Refugee to Warrior: Trump Nominates Hung Cao for Secretary of the Navy

The Vietnamese refugee, decorated Navy veteran and current acting secretary has been tapped by President Trump to permanently lead the Department of the Navy, pending Senate confirmation.

MAGA Viral opinion graphic for TD Simon’s “From Refugee to Warrior: Trump Nominates Hung Cao for Secretary of the Navy,” featuring Hung Cao in Navy dress uniform with an American flag, aircraft carrier, U.S. Navy emblem, and U.S. Capitol in a dark navy, gold, red, and cream editorial design.

Hung Cao is a true patriot. 🇺🇸

Hung Cao has been an inspiration to me for years because of his incredible life story, his service, his sacrifice, and the way he has carried himself as an American patriot.

Born in Saigon, he came to the United States as a four-year-old Vietnamese refugee in 1975. His family later spent several years in West Africa before he returned to Northern Virginia at age twelve.

He came to this country as a refugee, and then devoted decades of his life to serving it.

He entered the Navy as a seaman recruit, earned his commission after graduating from the United States Naval Academy, and went on to serve as a Navy diver, explosive ordnance disposal officer and special operations veteran.

He deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

He took part in the recovery operation for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane.

He commanded the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center.

He later worked on the Navy’s budget process at the Pentagon.

That is an extraordinary life.

From refugee to warrior.

From survivor to servant.

From a child fleeing communism to a man defending the greatest Republic on earth.

And the story did not stop there.

After two hard-fought campaigns in Virginia, Hung Cao went right back to work, first as Under Secretary of the Navy, then as Acting Secretary of the Navy.

Now, President Trump has announced his nomination of Cao to permanently lead the Department of the Navy, pending confirmation by the United States Senate.

That means something to me.

Because Hung Cao is the very essence of what I believe a true American warrior should be: disciplined, courageous, grateful, battle-tested and fully committed to defending our Republic.

He came here as a refugee.

He served this country for decades.

And he never stopped.

Thank you, President Trump, for recognizing the character, experience and extraordinary service of this American patriot.

🇺🇸⚓ A REFUGEE. A WARRIOR. A PATRIOT. A DEFENDER OF THE REPUBLIC.