Navy reverses demotion of Rep. Ronny Jackson, ex-White House doctor

Source: NBC News/AP

Sept. 3, 2025, 11:34 PM EDT / Source: The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — Rep. Ronny Jackson announced that the Navy has restored his retired rank of rear admiral, overturning a 2022 demotion that followed a scathing investigation that found major issues with his behavior while he was the top White House physician.

The Texas Republican on Wednesday posted a June 13 letter from Navy Secretary John Phelan saying he had reinstated Jackson to the retired rank of a one-star admiral following a "review of all applicable reports and references." The Navy confirmed the move, with a spokesperson for Phelan saying he "greatly appreciates Congressman Jackson's decades of distinguished naval service."

The decision to restore Jackson's rank comes as the Pentagon has become increasingly transparent in offering benefits and consideration to those it sees as personally loyal supporters of President Donald Trump, while those who are seen as unsupportive of Trump have been pushed out of senior roles across the military. Two weeks ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who oversaw the intelligence agency that produced an initial intelligence assessment of U.S. damage to Iranian nuclear sites that angered Trump.

Following his 2019 retirement from the Navy, Jackson was retroactively demoted following a yearslong investigation into his behavior when he was a physician to Trump and former President Barack Obama. An inspector general's report found that he made "sexual and denigrating" comments about a female subordinate, violated the policy on drinking alcohol on a presidential trip and took prescription-strength sleeping medication that prompted worries from his colleagues about his ability to provide proper medical care. Jackson gained notoriety for his over-the-top pronouncements about Trump's health during his first term.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/navy-reverses-demotion-rep-ronny-jackson-ex-white-house-doctor-rcna228989