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James48

(4,874 posts) Sat Jul 12, 2025, 08:54 PM Saturday

Hegseth pulls Donnelly nomination to 7th Fleet after questions about carrier drag shows

Source: Stars and Stripes

The Pentagon has pulled the nomination of Rear Adm. Michael “Buzz” Donnelly to lead the 7th Fleet following questions from a conservative news outlet about drag shows aboard an aircraft carrier nearly 10 years ago. Donnelly was nominated June 18 by President Donald Trump for promotion to vice admiral and command of 7th Fleet, based at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, and the Navy’s largest overseas force. However, Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth has rescinded Donnelly’s nomination, an unidentified Pentagon spokesperson said Friday by email to Stars and Stripes. The spokesperson, who declined to identify themselves, would not comment on whether the decision to withdraw Donnelly’s nomination was related to drag shows.

Donnelly, currently the head of the Chief of Naval Operations’ air warfare division, was commander of the Ronald Reagan from 2016 to 2017. He also led Carrier Strike Group 5 and Task Force 70 at Yokosuka Naval Base from 2021 to 2023. While Donnelly was skipper of the Reagan, then-Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Kelley occasionally performed drag shows aboard the carrier under the stage name “Harpy Daniels.” Kelley also managed to win second place and a $1,000 Navy Exchange gift card in a lip-sync competition aboard the carrier, the Military Times reported in August 2018.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-07-11/michael-donnelly-7th-fleet-hegseth-drag-show-18405990.html

Read more: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-07-11/michael-donnelly-7th-fleet-hegseth-drag-show-18405990.html?utm_source=Stars+and+Stripes+Emails&utm_campaign=Daily+Headlines&utm_medium=email

So they kill his nomination for allowing a drag show 8 years ago.

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Hegseth pulls Donnelly nomination to 7th Fleet after questions about carrier drag shows (Original Post) James48 Saturday OP

So hildegaard28 Saturday #1

Hegseth V RADM Donnelly BOSSHOG Saturday #2

Nomination pulled for knowing what a turd Hogsbreath is! Mopar151 Saturday #3

These pukes got something to say about the "greatest generation" soldiers and sailors? RockRaven Saturday #4

Afaict drag shows in the all-male military have a centuries-long entertainment record Hekate Saturday #5

from South Pacific - Honey Bun... msongs Saturday #6

The performer CurtEastPoint Saturday #7

Is Hegseth going to attack the White House? Both Trump and Vance have been involved with drag. Norrrm Saturday #8

So , , , AverageOldGuy Sunday #9

hildegaard28

(583 posts)

1. So

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 08:57 PM

Saturday

Soldiers can't have drag shows, but Pete Hegseth can have a makeup room?

BOSSHOG

(43,225 posts)

2. Hegseth V RADM Donnelly

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:00 PM

Saturday

Who would you want leading our military?

Compare and contrast resumes.

This is how conservative influencers influence.

Mopar151

(10,315 posts)

3. Nomination pulled for knowing what a turd Hogsbreath is!

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:04 PM

Saturday

Hegseth would.reinstate flogging.....

RockRaven

(17,620 posts)

4. These pukes got something to say about the "greatest generation" soldiers and sailors?

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:04 PM

Saturday

The US military’s long history with drag
By Sarah Sicard
Jul 6, 2023

Corsets are tightened, tutus are fluffed, and wigs are adjusted. Men apply heavy rouge and step into glossy high heels before entering stage left. The lights shine down and a line dance accompanied by singing ensues.

While this may sound like it has all the modern day trimmings of a drag show, the year is 1942, and the performers are U.S. soldiers.

The U.S. military has a rather lengthy history when it comes to drag shows, particularly during World War II, when cross dress events were not only sanctioned by the Army, but celebrated as a boon for morale. Because the armed forces were officially segregated by sex until 1948, there was little choice for any service member theater production but to employ men as women.

“From Broadway to Guadalcanal, on the backs of trucks, makeshift platforms, and elegant theater stages, American GIs did put on all-male shows for each other that almost always featured female impersonation routines,” writes author Allan Bérubé.

https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2023/07/06/the-us-militarys-long-history-with-drag/

Hekate

(98,530 posts)

5. Afaict drag shows in the all-male military have a centuries-long entertainment record

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:15 PM

Saturday

There’s some old films from WWII (USO, I think) — some references in Hollywood movies of the era, and the musical my high school drama club put on in the 1960s, which featured “Honey Bun” which featured comic cross-dressing. Jesus, I hate idiots.

?si=wTUdLgS1yYPwrbcC

msongs

(71,790 posts)

6. from South Pacific - Honey Bun...

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:18 PM

Saturday

?si=gS8smypYB3NcJxBQ

CurtEastPoint

(19,563 posts)

7. The performer

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 09:39 PM

Saturday

Norrrm

(2,362 posts)

8. Is Hegseth going to attack the White House? Both Trump and Vance have been involved with drag.

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sat Jul 12, 2025, 11:21 PM

Saturday

AverageOldGuy

(2,732 posts)

9. So , , ,

Reply to James48 (Original post)

Sun Jul 13, 2025, 12:37 AM

Sunday

Let’s see if I understand this: SECDEF Hogsbreath can have a makeup room that he uses before appearing in public but drag shows on aircraft carriers are verboten? SECDEF Hogsbreath can get shit-faced, knee-walking, commode-hugging drunk and climb on stage and try to fuck a stripper, but . . . .

Reply to this discussion