President Donald Trump fires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
President Donald Trump fired General CQ Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump also fired Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, and General Jim Slife, Air Force Chief of Staff. Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine has been nominated to fill the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Caine as embodying the warfighter ethos and as the exact leader needed for the nominated role. As of the date of the linked article, no replacements for Chief of Naval Operations and Air Force Chief of Staff have been identified.
From Military Times:
President Donald Trump on Friday evening fired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jim Slife.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that Trump plans to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, who joined the venture capital firm Shield Capital in January, as the nation’s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
“General Caine embodies the warfighter ethos and is exactly the leader we need to meet the moment,” Hegseth said. “I look forward to working with him.”
No replacements for Franchetti — the first woman to serve as a service chief — or Slife were announced. Hegseth said he is requesting nominations to fill their roles.
Franchetti and Slife “have had distinguished careers,” Hegseth said. “We thank them for their service and dedication to our country.”
Hegseth also requested nominations for the Army, Navy and Air Force judge advocates general, indicating they too have been fired.
Since Trump’s reelection, rumors have swirled in Washington about Brown’s precarious position and possible firing.
Brown, who was the second Black chairman and the first Black officer to serve as a service chief, became a target for some commentators and lawmakers for his openness to diversity initiatives.
In his statement, Hegseth said Brown “has served with distinction in a career spanning four decades of honorable service. I have come to know him as a thoughtful adviser and salute him for his distinguished service to our country.”
Additional Reading:
Losey, S. (2025, February 21). Trump fires Joint Chiefs chairman, Navy head in DOD leadership purge. Military Times. Link.
Category: Air Force, Big Navy, Big Pentagon, Donald Trump
“If naval operations suffer, at least we can hold our heads high. Because at least we have another first! The first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff”
Trump made a big deal about appointing CQ the first black service chief. So Trump cancelled his own DEI appointment, if that isn’t irony, nothing is.
Yes. It is so refreshing to see a politician that learns from his mistakes…
Maybe because the Trumpminator is not a politician?
I wouldn’t say DJT is righting-a-wrong. Brown’s initiative “setting goals of having more black pilots” reeks of quotas. These ideas are in direct conflict with POTUS & SECDEF’s ending quotas and relying on merit. If you’ve ever had a new CEO/Dept Head/Manager take charge, there is usually change over to those who don’t align with those that are the new leadership. Brown will be fine. I hear O-10 retirement pay & bennies are pretty sweet. Don’t forget a BOD gig with books and speech fees too. Don’t worry about him.
“The single dumbest phrase in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength’.”
Yup! Just saying something doesn’t make it so. Give me empirical evidence…..specific examples of how/why this is so. Facts matter.
Diversity is the strength in the USMilitary. A diverse array of firepower raining down on those who wish ill upon us. You’ve got small arms fire, indirect fire from KoB and his band of miscreants, some cruise missiles launched from ships over the horizon, and the close air support that every grunt loves from the beloved A-10 and Apache helicopters.
#DiveristyIsOurStrength!
Cliched, but…
Clichéd maybe, but still fitting.
Later CQ!
Apparently Conditinally Qualified is no longer good enough…
Hey Jeff, I don’t recall the artist, but I do remember my dad playing a record with a song “.Charlie Brown” that could be appropriate here. Any chance you could find ir?
The Coasters, Charlie Brown.
Here ya go, Fyr…The Coaster’s Live Version…also done by The Kim Sisters….
I always liked that one.
Great “Coasters” novelty song. When It was on the charts, I used to hear it on our car radio and and at home listening to the radio. The group had around 30 records which were mostly what we call novelty songs and not to many ballads.
I always hated doing CQ.
😫
I waited, and saw.
Sure enough he’s outta here.
He went DEI and his career DIEd.
so many songs to say goodbye with. I think a big boot in the ass says just as much. Goodbye DEI General…Good riddance to these clowns.
Just say that the President has lost confidence in his leadership and judgment. That was acceptable for every other senior officer relieved over the last 50 years.