Hung Cao, who lost to Sen. Tim Kaine in November, will serve as Under Secretary of the Navy following his appointment by President Donald Trump.

Cao during his Senate run in 2024 was critical of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, referring to them as a "far-left ideological agenda."

The former congressional candidate has called for a military of alpha males and females willing “to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds.”