February 22nd 2025.
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump announced late Friday that US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles 'CQ' Brown, would be stepping down from his position. In his place, Trump has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine to take on the role. The news was shared by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he thanked General Brown for his 40 years of dedicated service to the country.
In his post, Trump described General Brown as a "fine gentleman" and "outstanding leader" and wished him and his family all the best for their future. However, the President did not clarify whether Brown had resigned or was fired from his position. As the highest-ranking military officer in the country, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff plays a crucial role in advising the President and the Secretary of Defense on matters of national security.
The removal of General Brown, who is only the second Black general to serve as chairman, is expected to have a significant impact on the Pentagon. During his 16 months in the role, Brown had been heavily involved in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He was appointed to the position in October 2023 by then-President Joe Biden.
Prior to the announcement, General Brown was visiting troops at the US southern border. Rumors had been circulating all week that Trump was planning to remove him from his position, despite his term not expiring until 2027. In November, Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had expressed his desire to make significant changes within the military, including diversity initiatives. He had even specifically mentioned the need to "course correct" and "fire the chairman of Joint Chiefs".
Hegseth recently announced budget cuts at the Pentagon and the dismissal of 5,400 probationary employees. Trump also revealed that he had directed Hegseth to seek nominations for five additional high-level positions, which will be announced soon. One of those nominations includes Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine for the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Caine has a distinguished military career, serving as an F-16 pilot and in various positions within the National Guard and the CIA.
However, Caine's military experience does not include some of the key assignments typically required for the position. This has raised questions, with many wondering if Trump has waived those requirements for national interest purposes. In a statement praising both General Brown and Lieutenant General Caine, Hegseth announced the removal of two other senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife.
Friday had been a busy day for Brown, who had been assessing the military's response to Trump's executive order on countering illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border. Despite support from key members of Congress and a seemingly friendly meeting with Trump in December, Brown's future was called into question during Hegseth's confirmation hearing last month. When asked if he would fire Brown, Hegseth had responded that all senior officers would be reviewed based on their merit, standards, and commitment to lawful orders.
Hegseth has been a vocal supporter of Trump's efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the military. He has previously taken aim at General Brown and questioned if he was only appointed because of his skin color. However, as he walked into the Pentagon on his first day as Defense Secretary, Hegseth was asked if he planned to fire Brown and responded by saying he was standing with him and looked forward to working with him.
In the second term of his presidency, Trump has been exercising his executive authority more strongly and has removed many officials from the previous administration, including those meant to carry over independently. General Brown gained attention in June 2020 when he spoke out about the police killing of George Floyd, despite knowing it was a risky move. He explained that discussions with his family convinced him that he needed to say something.
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