US President Donald Trump fires Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown in leadership shake-up

US military leadership shake-up

In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump has dismissed Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as part of his ongoing efforts to reshape the federal government. The 78-year-old President announced the decision on Truth Social, thanking Brown for his service and wishing him well.

“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote.

Dan ‘Razin’ Caine nominated as successor

Trump nominated retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, a former F-16 pilot and CIA associate director of military affairs, to replace Brown. Trump criticized former President Joe Biden for overlooking Caine’s promotion, stating, “Despite being highly qualified and respected to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the previous administration, General Caine was passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe Biden. But not anymore!”

Trump expressed confidence that Caine, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, would help rebuild the military and restore “peace through strength.”

High-profile military firings continue

Brown’s dismissal is part of a broader military leadership overhaul. Trump also removed Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service as head of the US Navy, and General Jim Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Franchetti became the second top-ranking woman officer dismissed by Trump, following the removal of Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan shortly after Trump took office.

Trump announced that five more high-level military officials would be replaced in the coming days, signaling an unprecedented shake-up in the US military leadership.

Brown’s tenure and controversial departure

General CQ Brown, only the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Colin Powell, served 16 months of his four-year term. His tenure was marked by challenges such as the Russia-Ukraine war and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Brown became a target of Trump’s administration for his public support of the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd’s death in 2020, as well as his association with DEI initiatives within the military.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a vocal critic of DEI policies, had hinted at Brown’s dismissal in a November podcast, stating, “First of all…you gotta fire the chairman of Joint Chiefs.” In his book, Hegseth questioned whether Brown’s appointment was influenced by his race, suggesting that “since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter.”

Unexpected timing of Brown’s removal

Brown’s removal surprised many, as he had a seemingly cordial relationship with Trump. In December 2024, the two were seated next to each other at the Army-Navy football game. Moreover, on his first day as Defense Secretary on January 27, Hegseth dismissed rumors of Brown’s removal, saying, “I am standing with him right now. Look forward to working with him.”

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post US President Donald Trump fires Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown in leadership shake-up appeared first on PGurus.