As Townhall has been covering, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Harvey Milk's name to be removed from a Navy ship, USNS Harvey Milk. This should hardly be a shocking move, given that President Donald Trump and his entire administration have been looking to crack down on woke nonsense infecting all areas of American society. Predictably, Democrats, especially in Milk's state of California, have been freaking out. Sen. Adam Schiff has been chief among them.
On Tuesday, Schiff posted from his official account his thoughts on Milk, including how he "was a veteran, a dedicated public servant, and an LGBTQ trailblazer" as well as one who also "showed courage and grit in just about everything he did."
"Despite Trump’s best efforts, the president will never tarnish that legacy," Schiff added.
Harvey Milk was a veteran, a dedicated public servant, and an LGBTQ trailblazer.
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) June 4, 2025
He showed courage and grit in just about everything he did.
Despite Trump’s best efforts, the president will never tarnish that legacy. https://t.co/QoOThZHbW3
When it comes to "legacy," Milk's is not a pleasant one. He was more than the fancy characteristics Schiff mentions above, as he was actually a statutory rapist who sexually preyed upon Jack Galen McKinley, a 16-year-old runaway who later committed suicide. He also had a rather uncomfortable closeness to Jim Jones, a cultist preacher and mass murderer who induced people to commit suicide.
Harvey Milk even wrote a letter to then President Jimmy Carter in February 1978 in which he heavily praised Jones, using the most flattering of terms:
Rev. Jones is widely known in the minority communities here and elsewhere as a man of the highest character, who has undertaken constructive remedies for social problems which have been amazing in their scope and effectiveness. He is also highly regarded amongst church, labor, and civic leaders of a wide range of political persuasions. Our own Board of Supervisors has presented Rev. Jones with a Certificate of Honor, unanimously passed by all members, praising the church for its many projects “which have been so beneficial to all the citizens of the Bay Area.” On the same occasion, he was also presented with a unanimously passed resolution by a Republican State Senator, Milton Marks representing that legislative body.
As Eric V. highlighted at our sister site of Twitchy, and with the clever headline of how "The Democrats Turn Sour Over a Ship Named Milk," plenty more California Democrats weighed in, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. There were other Democrats too, though, including former DNC Chariwoman Donna Brazile. Those from another bright blue state, New York, also chimed in, including Rep. Jerry Nadler and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer). They all needed to be reminded of such uncomfortable truths, and many were happy to oblige over X.
He sexually abused a 16-year-old boy, Gavin. https://t.co/GXwOXLCxgb
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) June 4, 2025
This Harvey Milk?
— Roxanne Hoge (@RoxanneHoge) June 4, 2025
The one who also preyed on minor boys when he was in his 30s?
Thats some courage all right, defending Jim Jones. 🤷♀️https://t.co/R2p0slkJCm
The posts from such Democrats all say more of the same, leaving out the unpleasant details of Milk's life. Newsom and Pelosi were even ratioed with the amount of replies that came in.
While Schiff did not meet such a fate, there have still been over 3,500 replies to his post. He was also embarrassed in further ways, namely on the Senate floor. On Thursday, Schiff attempted to block Hegseth's move to strip Milk's name from the Navy ship. Although he tried to pass a resolution by unanimous consent, that was opposed by Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC).
The Hill reported on the move from Schiff and Budd, as well as how Milk could have faced a court martial for being gay. Just as Democrats speaking out in support of Milk did over X, the article left out some of the more uncomfortable truths about Milk's legacy:
Milk, a gay rights activist, was a Navy lieutenant who served during the Korean War and in 1977 became the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. He was assassinated a year later.
“The Navy has seen fit to honor these civil rights icons – who spent their lives fighting for the rights of the American people – by naming ships in their honor. We learned this week, however, that the secretary of Defense does not share the view that these leaders are worthy of the honor of recognition that the Navy has bestowed upon them,” Schiff said on the floor.
“Today I offer a simple resolution,” Schiff said. “It says that the Senate believes that it is important and worthwhile to honor civil rights leaders by naming ships after them, and it expresses the Senate’s view that the Department of Defense should not seek to remove these names.”
Milk was forced to resign from the Navy and receive an other than honorable discharge. That was in place of a court-martial for being gay, which was a crime in the service at the time.
Budd pointed to “Naval custom and tradition” as a reason for his objection to Schiff’s push.
Despite Nadler's insistence in his post from is official account that Hegseth "should be ashamed," the secretary doesn't seem fazed. He's been posting and reposting from both of his X accounts about successes for the military under the Trump administration, including expectations that NATO will increase their own commitment to defense spending, as well as welcome news on military recruitment numbers.
It's only a few days into June, but it certainly seems that gone are the days when a presidential administration obsessively commemorates Pride Month, as Hegseth's predecessor, then Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did. The Pentagon and the Department of Defense during the Biden-Harris administration were also far too focused on such a priority, instead of more fitting goals, such as those military recruiting numbers, which were a much different story at the time.
Pete Hegseth should be ashamed.
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 3, 2025
Harvey Milk served this country with honor—first in the Navy, then as a trailblazing public servant.
Erasing his name from a Navy ship during Pride Month is a petty, disgraceful insult to his legacy and to LGBTQI+ Americans who continue to serve. https://t.co/v9qxmdhP6l
. @SecDef at NATO urged our allies to increase their defense spending to at least 5%.
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 5, 2025
“We don't need more flags. We need more fighting formations.” pic.twitter.com/bOmw0BxW2z
Recruiting is surging!!!
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) June 3, 2025
The best is yet to come! 🇺🇸https://t.co/KzpiPiR1UJ
