President Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Nominates Air Force Lt. General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced removal of Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti

WASHINGTON, DC—President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles Q. “CQ” Brown Jr. from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with several other high-ranking military officials.

General Brown was relieved of his duties on Friday evening. His tenure began in October 2023 and was expected to continue until 2027.

The President announced his decision via a post on Truth Social, expressing gratitude for Brown’s over four decades of service and wishing him well in future endeavors. Notably, the dismissal occurred while General Brown was actively engaged in duties, including a recent tour of the southern border.

In the same announcement, President Trump nominated retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s successor. Lt. Gen. Caine, a former F-16 pilot with extensive experience in special operations, previously served as the associate director of military affairs at the CIA from 2021 to 2024.

He is currently a partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm. His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

The shake-up extended beyond General Brown. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the removal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations and the first woman to hold the position, and Air Force Vice Chief General James Slife.

In addition, the top military lawyers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force were also dismissed as a part of a broader effort to realign military leadership and focus on core missions.

The administration has indicated that these changes aim to refocus the military on its primary objectives of deterrence, combat, and victory.

Both President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have been vocal critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the armed forces, suggesting that such programs detract from military readiness. General Brown, in particular, faced scrutiny for his public support of DEI efforts and his reflections on racial challenges within the military.

The dismissals have elicited a range of responses. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the firings as politically motivated and detrimental to the integrity of the military. Representative Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, described General Brown’s firing as “completely unjustified.”

Conversely, some Republican allies have supported the President’s decision, viewing it as necessary to eliminate wokeness from military leadership.

Similar Stories