WASHINGTON — In a surprising move, President Donald Trump dismissed Air Force Gen. CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, removing a highly regarded fighter pilot and senior officer as part of his efforts to eliminate military leaders who advocate for diversity and fairness within the armed forces.
The removal of Brown, who was only the second Black general to hold the position of chairman, is anticipated to cause significant disruption within the Pentagon. Throughout his 16-month tenure, Brown played a pivotal role in addressing the conflict in Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“I extend my gratitude to General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his dedication and service to our nation spanning over 40 years, including his recent role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is an exceptional leader and a respected individual, and I wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors,” Trump shared on social media.
Trump says he is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman.
Trump acted despite support for Brown among key members of Congress and a seemingly friendly meeting with him in mid-December, when the two were seated next to each other for a time at the Army-Navy football game. Brown had been meeting regularly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who took over the top Pentagon job just four weeks ago.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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