Trump fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Old_Joe

Following are excerpts from a current NPR report:

President Trump has fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and announced he will nominate a retired three-star general to succeed him as the nation's top military officer.



Trump announced Brown's dismissal in a post Friday on TruthSocial, in which he thanked Brown "for his over 40 years of service to our country," and called him a "fine gentleman and an outstanding leader." Brown, a former combat pilot, rose to become the first Black man to lead a branch of the military as Air Force chief before he was nominated by former President Joe Biden as chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2023.

Trump said he would be nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine to succeed Brown.

"General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special operations experience," Trump wrote, adding that Caine "was instrumental in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate."

Brown's ouster appeared increasingly likely following the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Prior to his nomination, Hegseth had called for Brown to be removed, alleging he supported a "woke" agenda that undermined military readiness.

"First of all, you've got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs," Hegseth said during an appearance in November on the Shawn Ryan Show.

Before becoming Joint Chiefs chairman, Brown pushed for the military to streamline its bureaucracy and also increase recruitment by attracting Americans from more diverse backgrounds.

In 2020 — as he was awaiting confirmation to serve as Air Force chief of staff — he gained national attention for a passionate video message about race that he shared as the nation was grappling with the police killing of George Floyd.

In a statement shared after Trump's announcement, Hegseth praised Brown for "four decades of honorable service," saying he has come to know him "as a thoughtful adviser."

In the same statement, Hegseth said he would be replacing several additional top military officials, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the Navy as Chief of Naval Operations, and Gen. James Slife, the Air Force's vice chief of staff.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, responded with a blistering statement expressing his concern over the firings.

"This appears to be part of a broader, premediated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons, which would undermine the professionalism of our military and send a chilling message through the ranks," Reed said.

larryB

When all the Generals owe their position to the king they won’t hesitate to follow his unlawful orders,,, which are surely on the way. Think of Tiananmen Square in amerika. Back in the day I was gassed at DuPont Circle and I saw lots of skulls cracked. But nobody got shot ( except Kent State)….when the new resistance starts to grow, members of our military will have to make hard choices about following unlawful orders. They swear their allegiance to the Constitution,,, not either one of our kings…. Blue on Blue might follow.

Crash

Notice? These things happen just before or during the week-end? @larryB has it described quite accurately. The whole business SMELLS.

Old_Joe

Not a "smell"... a nauseating stench.

Crash

Oh, yeah. But Gov. Mills of Maine knows what's what!
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/21/nx-s1-5305108/trump-janet-mills-maine-transgender-athletes

I agree with Trump's position on this issue. But not his nazi tactics. Glad to see Mills standing up!
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/21/nx-s1-5305108/trump-janet-mills-maine-transgender-athletes

larryB

Puppets at the pentagon ✔️ At main Justice ✔️FBi✔️ SCOTUS✔️. I am not saying that resistance will be futile but it will be bloody. Protesters will end up with those caught up in migrant dragnets. Or worse. But some just worry about their portfolios in the next month.

davidrmoran

I sure hope everyone read HCR tonight, mil takeover and cowboy fascism

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-22-2025

stomach-turning

Observant1

"'This appears to be part of a broader, premediated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons, which would undermine the professionalism of our military and send a chilling message through the ranks,' Reed said."

I don't understand how Trump's actions will increase military strength nor make America great.
What a ******* train wreck!

rono

Howdy,

What we're witnessing is the beginnings of a military coup. Suck it up, buttercup, it's time for shit to get real. I'm voting for McRaven to be MFIC.

Alas,

Rono

Derf

In case you 're wondering, MFIC = Mother Figure in Charge

larryB

When the three JAGS are Maghats the rule of law for our nations military will no longer exist. Think about that. When the king orders the 1st Cav into Portland cause the resistance is getting some momentum,,,, the JAG will say that is a lawful order. Think of what might happen when one General is loyal to their oath to the Constitution and another to the two kings. Might that be an event to get out of the off topic page?

larryB

@Rono. A coup is already underway. And yes the MAGA led military would be used to defend the two kings. But it’s also possible that some units will remain loyal to their oath to the constitution and take up arms against the maga regime units. Think about that. No,,, let’s think about our portfolios next week. By the way,,, I saw the 101 Airborne Division in action against Americans in Detroit. It did happen.

Mark

And don't forget Kent State.

Sven

I remember those facts covered in my high school history class. An acquaintance recently said quietly “Will we have the United States 4 years from now ?” Coming from this conservative individual, it is very disturbing.

JD_co

We are now a rascist led country. It would take a courageous act of American patriotism to stop him at this point.

Where that hero comes from, God only knows.

This act only weakens our military leadership. China must be loving this. Puppets abound, talent will depart and we lose face.

larryB

@mark. “Four dead in Ohio!” Neil Young. That was the Ohio National Guard. Not the US military. Detroit was invaded by the 82nd and 101st. The death toll was much higher than reported. We had a family friend was was resident at the Detroit hospital where the bodies were collected. He told us the numbers were in the hundreds.