US Navy secretary apologises for calling fired captain 'stupid'

The Navy's acting secretary has been forced to apologize after a profanity-laden broadside in which he called the fired commander of the coronavirus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt "too naive or too stupid".

Thomas Modly issued a written apology after President Donald Trump, at a White House news conference, described his comments about Captain Brett E Crozier as "rough".

Modly had relieved Crozier of command of the aircraft carrier last week. He said he'd lost confidence in Crozier for having shown "extremely poor judgment" in widely distributing a memo pleading for an accelerated evacuation of the crew members to protect their health.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Modly should lose his job.

"Sadly, Acting Secretary Modly's actions and words demonstrate his failure to prioritize the force protection of our troops," Pelosi, D-Calif, said in a written statement.

"He showed a serious lack of the sound judgment and strong leadership needed during this time. Acting Secretary Modly must be removed from his position or resign."