Spencer has acted honorably throughout the affair. In his resignation letter, he said he could not “in good conscience obey” Trump’s decision to reverse Gallagher’s demotion and allow him to keep his Trident pin.
“A generation of officers had to rebuild the war-fighting culture after Vietnam, which they did with great success, and the military is a rare institution that Americans say they still trust,” wrote the Wall Street Journal‘s editorial board on Monday. “As commander-in-chief, Mr. Trump will undermine the officers under his command if he runs roughshod over their effort to maintain good order and discipline.”