Former Secretary of the Navy John Phelan waited more than an hour to meet President Donald Trump on Wednesday, April 22, and personally begged him to reinstate him in his role, according to reports that detailed the fired Navy secretary's final attempt to avoid dismissal. Phelan's appeal came a day after internal pressure from Pentagon leadership ended with the president confirming his exit. Fired Navy secretary's last-minute appeal at the White House President Donald Trump declined to reverse the decision.