Trump fires Air Force Gen. CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — and names his replacement
SUMMARY
In a stunning late-night move on Friday, President Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ending his 16-month tenure. Brown, just the second Black general to hold the post, was replaced by Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, a former F-16 pilot Trump hailed as a “warfighter” who helped obliterate the ISIS caliphate during his first term. Trump took to Truth Social, thanking Brown for his 40 years of service and calling him a “fine gentleman,” but offered no reason for the sudden dismissal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who once criticized Brown’s rise as possibly race-driven, now cheers Caine as “the leader we need.” Oddly, Hegseth had given Brown a thumbs-up just last month after a meeting. Hours before the firing, Brown was touring the southern border. The shake-up didn’t stop there—Navy Chief Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Gen. Jim Slife were also sacked. Caine’s nomination now heads to the Senate.
