WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - United States President Donald Trump said he may get involved in a deepening crisis in the Navy after its top civilian on Monday (April 6) ridiculed a revered former commander whose letter pleading for help for his coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier was leaked to the public.

In a surprise speech to crew members of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt that was meant to be a private address, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly defended his decision to relieve Captain Brett Crozier of his command due to the leak.

"If he didn't think that information was going to get out into the public in this information age that we live in, then he was A, too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this," Mr Modly said on the carrier while it was docked in Guam on Monday. "The alternative is that he did it on purpose."

Capt Crozier, who took command of the Theodore Roosevelt in November, had written a four-page letter describing a bleak situation aboard the carrier as more of his crew began falling ill.

Mr Modly said the letter, and the leak, amounted to a betrayal by the captain, who was responsible one way or another.

US officials verified the recording of Mr Modly's speech heard by Reuters. After an initial statement saying he stood by every word of his speech, Mr Modly later apologised, saying: "I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid."

President Trump, in a White House briefing, suggested he might be able to resolve the situation.

"You have two good people and they're arguing... I'm good at settling these arguments. So I may look into it in great detail, in detail and I'll be able to figure it out very fast," he said.

Capt Crozier should not have sent his letter, but he did not "want to destroy somebody for having a bad day", Mr Trump said.

A sailor on board the ship told Reuters that Mr Modly's speech only angered the crew.

"Nobody likes what he had to say... He made everyone more irritated," said the sailor, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Capt Crozier's crew members showed their disapproval of Mr Modly's decision by posting videos online last week of their captain's emotional send-off. Sailors hailed Capt Crozier as a hero, out to defend his crew at great cost to his career.

Some 173 crew have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, possibly including Capt Crozier himself.

Mr Modly and Mr Trump have both been criticised for the decision to relieve Capt Crozier of command.

Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith, a Democrat, called on Monday for Mr Modly's removal.

"Acting Secretary Modly's decision to address the sailors on the Roosevelt and personally attack Captain Crozier shows a tone-deaf approach more focused on personal ego than one of the calm, steady leadership we so desperately need in this crisis," he said in a statement.

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden said Mr Modly "shot the messenger".

In his letter, Capt Crozier called for "decisive action" - removing more than 4,000 sailors from the ship and isolating them - and wrote that unless the Navy acted immediately, it would be failing to properly safeguard "our most trusted asset - our sailors".

The letter put the Pentagon on the defensive and alarmed families of those on the vessel.

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said military officials had recommended against firing Capt Crozier, arguing that it was better for an investigation to be completed.

The official said Mr Modly was made aware that the White House wanted Capt Crozier out, though it does not appear that Mr Trump directed him to do so.