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In an unprecedented shake-up of U.S. military leadership, President Donald Trump fired Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday. Brown, who had held the role since October 2023 after being appointed by President Joe Biden, is the second Black officer to serve as the nation’s highest-ranking military official.
Brown’s dismissal is part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the federal government, including plans to cut 10% of the federal workforce and overhaul military leadership.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family.”
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine Nominated as Replacement
Trump has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to replace Brown, calling him an “accomplished pilot, national security expert, and warfighter.” Caine has served as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the CIA and previously played a key role in special operations missions against ISIS.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has long criticized Brown for pushing what he calls a “woke” agenda, confirmed the firing.
“Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting, and winning wars,” Hegseth said in a statement.
More High-Ranking Firings Expected
Brown is not the only top military official being forced out. Hegseth also announced the dismissals of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, and Gen. James Slife, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. The administration is now seeking new nominations for their replacements.
Senate Republicans Support Caine’s Confirmation
Trump’s decision is already sparking debate over civilian control of the military. However, Republican senators appear to back the move.
“I’m confident General Caine will be the right person at the right time to take over as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Every president deserves their team when it comes to national security.”
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) also weighed in, thanking Brown for his “decades of honorable service to our nation.”
With this sweeping military leadership purge, the Pentagon is bracing for a significant shift in strategy and prioritiesunder Trump’s second term. The Senate confirmation process for Caine will likely face scrutiny in the coming weeks as lawmakers assess Trump’s vision for the U.S. military.
