Top Diplomat in Trump Admin Leaving State Dept

In a statement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth avoided mentioning any friction with his four-star commander.

“On behalf of the Department of War,” Hegseth said, adding, “We extend our deepest gratitude to Admiral Alvin Holsey for his more than 37 years of distinguished service to our nation as he plans to retire at year’s end.”

Some Pentagon officials said there were policy tensions concerning Venezuela that the admiral opposed and that misaligned with the Trump administration.

This comes as Trump hinted this week that he may already know who he wants to pick if there’s another U.S. Supreme Court vacancy.

Trump joked during a White House ceremony that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, should be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, quipping that lawmakers in both parties would quickly vote to confirm him because they would be eager to see him leave the Senate.

Trump made the remarks Monday during the official launch of the Trump Accounts program, a savings initiative championed by Cruz that was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.