The Trump administration has restored the rank of retired Navy doctor Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to rear admiral despite a government watchdog finding that he abused subordinates, drank on the job, and made sexual comments about a woman while serving as the top White House physician.
Jackson revealed the Trump administration’s move on social media Wednesday afternoon about four hours after Military.com contacted his office to inquire about legislation a House colleague filed to authorize Jackson’s rank to be restored and provide him back pay for the time in which he was demoted to captain.
“I was, and still am, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, and Joe Biden is a retired old FOOL,” Jackson posted on X. “After the Biden administration’s politically motivated attacks against me, I am pleased to share that my military rank has been fully restored.”
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The post also included a copy of a letter from Navy Secretary John Phelan dated June 13 informing Jackson of the Trump administration’s decision.
“Your professionalism and commitment to duty have consistently exemplified the highest traditions of naval service,” Phelan wrote in the letter. “I am grateful for your leadership, dedication and support of the men and women who serve in our Navy and Marine Corps.”
Jackson was quietly demoted to captain in 2022, three years after his retirement from the Navy, following an inspector general report that substantiated allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior on the job. The demotion was first reported by The Washington Post last year.
During his Navy career, Jackson served as a White House doctor through multiple presidents. But he shot to prominence during President Donald Trump’s first term when he held a press conference in 2018 in which he praised Trump’s “incredibly good genes” and joked that the president “might live to be 200 years old” if he ate healthier.
After Jackson’s fawning performance at the press conference, Trump nominated him to become secretary of Veterans Affairs.
But Jackson’s nomination was withdrawn after allegations came to light that he drank on the job, overprescribed medications, and created a hostile work environment.
The Pentagon’s inspector general investigated the allegations and concluded in a 2021 report that he “disparaged, belittled, bullied and humiliated" subordinates; made "sexual and denigrating" comments about a female medical subordinate; and drank alcohol while providing medical care to former President Barack Obama on at least two official trips. One witness who spoke to investigators described Jackson’s actions as “frat boy-type behavior.”
Despite the findings, Jackson maintained his innocence, saying in 2021 that the investigation was a “political hit job.” By then, he had been elected to Congress.
In addition to the social stigma of being demoted, Jackson’s post-retirement punishment came with a steep financial cost. The difference between retirement pay for a captain and a rear admiral can be more than $10,000 annually.
The Navy did not immediately respond to Military.com’s request for comment about Phelan’s decision to restore Jackson’s rear admiral rank, but the service confirmed the secretary’s move to The Associated Press.
Prior to Jackson revealing the Navy had already reversed his demotion, a House colleague was prepared to fight for a reversal.
Earlier this week, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., proposed an amendment to this year’s annual defense policy bill that would have authorized Jackson to be promoted once again to rear admiral and granted him “back pay to the date on which his rank was administratively reduced,” according to text of the amendment that was posted to the House Rules Committee website.
The amendment has since been withdrawn, according to the Rules Committee website.
“Ronny Jackson is a friend, patriot and exemplary leader,” Issa’s spokesperson, Jonathan Wilcox, said in an emailed statement to Military.com. “Congressman Issa knew from the start that what was done to Rep. Jackson was completely unjustified and represented a shameful abuse of power by those who were actually in charge of the Biden administration. In the end, justice was served, and Rear Adm. Jackson once again holds the rank he has earned.”
Military.com emailed Jackson’s office late Wednesday morning asking for comment on Issa’s amendment. That afternoon, a spokesperson responded with a link to Jackson’s social media post.
Jackson’s rank reinstatement follows a pattern of the Trump administration rewriting history and rewarding the president’s supporters after perceived wrongs.
Last week, the Air Force confirmed that it offered military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police while trying to crawl through a shattered window to an area where lawmakers were barricaded during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Further, fired Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier was appointed Air Force under secretary, and former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who pleaded guilty at a court-martial to six charges related to criticism of the Afghanistan withdrawal he posted on social media, has been appointed to conduct several Pentagon reviews.
