Trump Shakes Up Military Leadership, Fires General Charles 'CQ' Brown
US President Donald Trump has fired General Charles “CQ” Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as part of a sweeping shake-up of top military leadership. Brown, the second African American to hold the position after Colin Powell, was removed alongside other senior officers, including Chief of Naval Operations Adm Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Jim Slife. The move comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized Brown for his focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military, which Hegseth described as “woke” and a distraction from the military’s core mission.
Trump announced the decision on social media, thanking Brown for his over 40 years of service. He also revealed plans to nominate retired Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine as Brown’s replacement, citing Caine’s experience and past assurances that the Islamic State could be defeated quickly. Caine, a former CIA associate director for military affairs, has been praised by Trump for his leadership and entrepreneurial background.
Brown, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, had been a vocal advocate for diversity in the military. In 2020, he gained attention for speaking out about racial challenges he faced as a Black officer, including being questioned about his credentials. His removal has sparked debate over the role of DEI programs in the armed forces, with Hegseth and other critics arguing that such initiatives detract from military readiness.
The firings mark a significant shift in Pentagon leadership, with Trump and Hegseth signaling a focus on refocusing the military on its “core mission” of deterring and winning wars. The shake-up also includes plans to cut the Pentagon’s budget and reduce civilian staff, further underscoring the administration’s push to realign military priorities.
CQ Brown: Trump fires top US general in Pentagon shake-up
The new Pentagon chief had accused CQ Brown of a woke focus on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
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Trump fires Black joint chiefs chair Hegseth accused of promoting diversity
US secretary of defense had questioned whether history-making air force general CQ Brown Jr got job because of race
www.theguardian.com
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Trump said he plans to nominate Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine of the U.S. Air Force to replace Gen. CQ Brown as the nation’s top-ranking military officer
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Trump ousts Joint Chiefs chairman, other leaders in major Pentagon shake-up
The Navy’s top admiral and a senior Air Force general also were dismissed as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moves to align the military with Trump’s a
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