Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher allegedly stabbed to death an unarmed prisoner of war. He was acquitted of the murder, but was found guilty in 2017 of posing with the corpse in photographs.

Prosecutors asserted that this was part of a pattern of behavior. They stated that fellow SEALs had grown so alarmed over his killing of civilians that they tampered with his sniper rifle to make it less accurate, and fired warning shots at civilians so they would flee before Gallagher attacked them. One fellow SEAL noted, “You could tell he was perfectly OK with killing anybody that was moving.” Another SEAL said of Gallagher, “The guy is freaking evil.”

Nevertheless, Trump allowed Gallagher to retain his SEAL Trident, an insignia which recognizes an individual as part of the elite special forces unit, and lent his vocal support. Despite Trump’s intervention, Navy military leaders still want Gallagher removed from the SEALs.

Trump has also pardoned other soldiers convicted of war crimes.

USA Today – Trump pardons service members in high profile war crimes cases
PBS – Navy SEAL Gallagher cleared of most charges
The New York Times – Navy Wants to Eject From SEALs a Sailor Cleared by Trump, Officials Say
NBC News – Navy SEALs spoke against pardoned platoon chief, leaked video reveals
Wikipedia – Eddie Gallagher (Navy SEAL)
Wikipedia – Special Warfare insignia