President Donald Trump appointed General Dan “Razin” Caine to command the US military in a major reorganization aimed at reducing “woke” influence in the Pentagon.
Caine, who once pledged to Trump, “I will do anything for you, sir,” will replace four-star fighter pilot General Charles “CQ” Brown, who has been the head of the Joint Chiefs since 2023.
Trump made the announcement Friday night, hailing Cane as a “warfighter” and a key figure in the “complete annihilation” of the ISIS caliphate.
“General Caine is a skilled pilot, an expert in national security, a successful businessperson, and a ‘warfighter’ with extensive experience in interagency and special operations,” Trump announced on Truth Social.
Don’s newly appointed defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, also threw his full support behind Caine, calling him “exactly the leader we need to meet the moment.”
PENTAGON PURGE UNDERWAY
The shake-up doesn’t stop with Brown’s firing.
Hegseth is also seeking replacements for the Chief of Naval Operations and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, along with key legal positions in the Judge Advocates General Corps.
Hegseth has been an outspoken critic of the military’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which he says have weakened U.S. forces.
Before taking office, he blasted Brown in his book The War of Warriors, claiming he was promoted for his politics rather than his military expertise.
“You think C.Q. Brown will think intuitively about external threats and internal readiness? No chance,” Hegseth wrote.
“He built his generalship dutifully pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians, who in turn rewarded him with promotions.”
Hegseth has also criticized Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the current Chief of Naval Operations, questioning her combat experience and mocking her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.
WINNING TRUMP OVER
Trump and Caine’s relationship dates back to Iraq in 2019, when the Air Force officer reportedly impressed the Republican strongman with his aggressive approach to military operations.
At last year’s CPAC conference, Trump recounted how Caine had once pledged his loyalty, saying: “I love you, sir. I think you’re great, sir. I’ll kill for you, sir.”
The moment, according to Trump, was sealed when Caine donned a MAGA hat — despite military rules barring active-duty personnel from wearing political gear.
Caine, who has logged over 2,800 flight hours in the F-16, including more than 100 in combat, was a key architect of the U.S. military’s rapid offensive against ISIS during Trump’s first term.
“It was done in record-setting time, a matter of weeks,” Trump wrote.
“Many so-called military ‘geniuses’ said it would take years to defeat ISIS. General Caine, on the other hand, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered.”
Despite his record, Trump said Caine was “passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe Biden.”
“But not anymore!” Trump declared.
“Alongside Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military.”
Trump and Hegseth did offer a parting nod to Brown, despite their sharp criticism of his leadership.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family.”
Hegseth echoed the sentiment, saying Brown “served with distinction in a career spanning four decades of honorable service.”
Donald Trump’s appointees
AS of February 2025, President Donald Trump has appointed several key figures to his administration:
‘First Buddy’: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, serving as an advisor and head of government cost-cutting team known as DOGE.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio, unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and vocal critic of military Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney and vaccine sceptic.
Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessent, an investment manager and the first openly gay person to hold this position.
Attorney General: Pam Bondi, former Attorney General of Florida.
Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Representative from Hawaii.
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Kash Patel, a former National Security Council official.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem, former Governor of South Dakota.
