Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden angered by Pentagon’s use of drag queen for recruiting program

A Navy SEAL who took part in the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden says he is outraged by the US Navy using a drag queen for a discarded recruiting program.

Robert J. O’Neill, a decorated combat veteran who was a member of SEAL Team Six for eight years, said on Twitter that he “cannot believe [he] fought for this bulls**t.’

‘Agree. The US Navy is now using an enlisted sailor Drag Queen as a recruiter,” he wrote. ‘I’m ready. China is going to destroy us.’

O’Neill was referring to Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, who announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador.”

Kelley was tasked with illuminating her journey from performing on board starting in 2018 and becoming an “advocate” for those who were “oppressed in the service for years.”

A Navy spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the digital ambassador program was a pilot that ended in March 2023.

O’Neill was referring to Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, who announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador.”

The tweet sent out by O’Neill on Wednesday afternoon has since been viewed 1.1 million times

The program Kelley was a part of ran from October 2022 to March 2023 and was designed to “explore the digital environment to reach a broad range of potential candidates” for military recruiting.

After O’Neill sent out his tweet on Wednesday afternoon, others chimed in to share O’Neill’s outrage at the ambassadorship.

His tweet quickly gained 1.1 million views and thousands of likes and retweets.

“As a Marine Veteran, I am ashamed on behalf of the United States Navy. I hope that comes across as well as Bud Light,” one person commented.

“This is beyond disturbing. I am a former military officer and I just can’t believe what our military is doing,” added another.

“An insult to any veteran and his families. My father just rolled over in his grave in Arlington. I’m so glad he didn’t have to see this happen,” one woman wrote.

Others, however, strongly disagreed with O’Neill’s sentiments and called him out for his statements.

“Honor, courage and dedication, I stand with the United States Navy and their choice,” said a woman who identified herself as a veteran under O’Neill’s post.

“Local man angry that he fought for freedom of speech,” wrote another.

“Can’t believe you fought to uphold citizens’ freedoms to be free to live as they please? You’ve read the Constitution, you’ve sworn an oath, haven’t you? Or did you skip the terms and conditions to join?’ said a man.

‘Agree. The US Navy is now using an enlisted sailor Drag Queen as a recruiter,” O’Neill wrote on Twitter. ‘I’m ready. China is going to destroy us’

The program Kelley was part of ran from October 2022 to March 2023 and was designed to “explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates” for recruitment

Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, whose stage name is Harpy Daniels, announced on TikTok in November that she would become the Navy’s first “digital ambassador,” highlighting her journey from performing aboard from 2018 to becoming an “advocate.” for those who were “repressed in service for years”

“As a Marine Veteran, I am ashamed on behalf of the United States Navy. I hope that comes across as well as Bud Light,” one person commented

“This is beyond disturbing. I am a former military officer and I just can’t believe what our military is doing,” added another

However, others strongly disagreed with O’Neill’s feelings and called him out

“Honor, courage and dedication, I stand with the United States Navy and their choice,” said a woman who identified herself as a veteran under O’Neill’s message

Kelley said her Navy experience has “brought so much strength, courage and ambition to continue to be an advocate and” [representative] of foreign sailors’

While the campaign was running, Kelley was one of five digital ambassadors.

Many have since compared her to Dylan Mulvaney, the trans activist whose association with Bud Light created a PR crisis for the brand.

Kelley has a large following on TikTok, where she has been sharing videos of her drag performances aboard naval vessels for years.

The outcry over the now-discarded program comes as the military is predicted that it will fall short of its fiscal year 2023 hiring targets.

The Military Times reported last month the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Army are all on track to be short of “thousands” of recruits.

The Navy is specifically looking at a shortfall of some 6,000 members.

The army is expected to be gone with about 10,000 men, while the air force is estimated to be around 3,400.