Senior Navy Official Placed on Administrative Leave After Undercover Video Reveals Plan to Reverse Trump Policies (Video)

A senior official in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy has been placed on administrative leave after an undercover video released by investigative journalist James O’Keefe captured him criticizing President Donald Trump and expressing an intent to reverse administration policies from inside the Pentagon once the opportunity arose.

Brandon Newsom, who serves as Director of Business Operations in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, was recorded in a conversation in which he stated he wanted to “stay and stick it out” at the Pentagon so that “when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done.” Newsom referred to Trump as a “textbook narcissist” and described certain administration actions, including aspects of the approach to Iran, in highly critical terms. He specifically mentioned undoing changes related to workforce policies and eliminating what he characterized as a “prayer service,” among other initiatives he said challenged his personal views.

O’Keefe’s organization released the hidden-camera footage this week. In the recording, Newsom discussed remaining in his position through the current administration in order to later reverse its direction on multiple fronts once leadership changed.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao responded swiftly. In a public statement, Cao said the Department of the Navy “takes the conduct shown in this video extremely seriously.” He described the statements and the apparent intent to leverage an official position to undermine policies set by elected leaders as “inappropriate and incompatible with the standards expected of Department personnel.” Cao announced that Newsom had been placed on administrative leave effective immediately while the department determines next steps to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of its mission.

The episode underscores ongoing tensions within the defense bureaucracy as the Trump administration implements significant policy shifts at the Pentagon. Newsom’s comments, captured in a social setting, have drawn sharp attention because they appear to reflect an explicit plan to work against the elected leadership’s agenda from within rather than simply disagreeing with it.

No further disciplinary action beyond the administrative leave has been announced. The Department of the Navy has indicated it is reviewing the matter to determine appropriate next steps. Newsom has not issued a public response to the video or the leave decision.

The incident follows a pattern of high-profile undercover investigations by O’Keefe targeting government officials and institutions. In this case, the footage has prompted immediate personnel action at one of the Pentagon’s most senior civilian offices, highlighting the administration’s stated zero-tolerance approach toward career officials who publicly or privately signal intent to obstruct or reverse presidential directives.