Semper Fi: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke offended by Democrat's jab at Navy SEALs

WASHINGTON – Criticize his travel expenses or pricey new office doors, if you’d like. But don’t ever insult Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s beloved Navy SEALs.

Zinke, who has come under fire for traveling aboard chartered planes and buying three office doors costing $139,000, fielded lots of questions about those expenses and other topics during a House committee hearing on Thursday.

But it was a jab at the Navy SEALs that really got under his skin.

Late in the House Natural Resources Committee hearing, Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., grilled the secretary about the Trump administration’s decision to shrink the size of national monuments, including Bears Ears in Utah.

Gallego wanted to know how many meetings Zinke had held with an alliance of Native American nations that helps manage the monument. And he grew impatient when Zinke couldn’t give him a specific number.

“I know you’re a Navy SEAL and math might be difficult, but give me a rough number here," he said.

Zinke, who spent 23 years as a member of the Navy’s primary special operations force, was not amused.

“I take offense about your derogatory comment about the United States Navy SEALs,” he snapped. “Of course, having not served, I understand you probably don’t know.”

“Having not served?” asked a puzzled Gallego, a former Marine.

“Not in the Navy – and not in the Navy SEALs,” Zinke shot back.

Gallego chuckled, apologized and backtracked.

“As you know, we have inter-rivalry jokes all of the time as a Marine, as a grunt,” he said. “And, of course, I appreciate your service.”

Zinke seemed sufficiently appeased.

“Semper fi,” the secretary said.

“Semper fi, brother,” Gallego replied.

Watch the exchange below.

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