President Donald Trump in a recent historic fired Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who has served the nation for over 40 years, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the highest-ranking officer in the Navy, from their positions.
This marks the first instance in which two members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been dismissed from their senior military roles simultaneously.
As part of the transition, retired military officer Caine will return to active duty. However, before he can assume the role of the president’s chief military adviser and the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, he must first be confirmed by the Senate.
Caine previously served in the Air Force for 34 years before retiring.
During his tenure, he was an F-16 pilot, the assistant commanding general at Joint Special Operations Command, and the Central Intelligence Agency’s associate director for military affairs.
Trump acknowledged Brown’s contributions to the military on his Truth Social platform, stating: “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.”
Brown was first nominated by Trump in early 2020 to become the Air Force’s first Black chief of staff. However, in the period leading up to his confirmation as defense secretary, he faced criticism from Pete Hegseth, as well as from Trump following his 2024 electoral victory.
Both Brown and Franchetti were reportedly included on a circulating list within Republican congressional offices, identifying top Pentagon officials Hegseth was allegedly advocating for removal.
“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth asserted during a November appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show.
“But any general that was involved — general, admiral, whatever — that was involved in any of the DEI woke s— has got to go,” he added. “Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
In his book War on Warriors, Hegseth questioned Brown’s credibility, writing: “We’ll never know, but always doubt — which on its face seems unfair to C.Q. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it really doesn’t much matter.”
Hegseth also cast doubt on Franchetti’s qualifications to lead the Navy. In the same book, he remarked: “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 — hooray.”
(ABC NEWS)
