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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, dismissed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the highest-ranking officer of the Navy, on Friday night.
In a message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced the news and added that he would appoint retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine, a partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm, as Brown's successor.
"I propose to the Lieutenant General of the Air Force Dan 'Razin' Caine as the next Chief of the Joint Staff. General Caine is an accomplished pilot, an expert in national security, a successful businessman, and a 'fighter' with significant experience in inter-agency and special operations," Trump stated.
The reason, as revealed by U.S. media, is said to be that the military leaders removed from their positions support diversity and equity.
Brown faced criticism from Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, in the lead-up to his confirmation for this position, and he was also criticized by Trump following his victory in the 2024 elections.
The medium ABC News that Hegseth was considering firing Brown due to his alleged involvement with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (commonly referred to as DEI).
"Any general who has been involved—general, admiral, whatever—who has been involved in any of the maneuvers of the DEI must go. Either you are in the fight against the war, and that’s it. That is the only litmus test that matters to us," said the Secretary of Defense, according to a report by ABC.
According to that outlet, the "racial card" was one of the general's most significant credentials.
According to Trump's message, Razin, nominated for the position of Brown, played "a decisive role in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate" during the first term of the current president.
"He did it in record time, in a matter of weeks. Many of the so-called 'military geniuses' claimed it would take years to defeat ISIS. General Caine, on the other hand, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered," he added.
In the same note, he thanked Brown for his more than 40 years of service to the country and blamed Joe Biden for having "overlooked" General Caine.
"General Caine and our military will restore peace through force, put the United States first, and rebuild our army," he said, revealing that he had instructed Hegseth to request nominations for five other high-level positions.
In June 2020, Trump celebrated his decision to appoint Charles Brown as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, amidst rising tensions in the country following the death of African American George Floyd after a police violence incident in Minneapolis.
During an appearance, the president described that day of the appointment as "a historic day for America" and expressed his excitement about working with Brown.
"Excited to work even more closely with Gen. Brown, who is a patriot and a great leader!" he said then.
Frequently asked questions about the dismissal of senior military officials by Trump
Why did Donald Trump dismiss high-ranking military officials Charles Q. Brown and Lisa Franchetti?
Donald Trump dismissed Charles Q. Brown and Lisa Franchetti due to their support for diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. These policies were criticized by the Trump administration, which seeks to eliminate DEI initiatives from the federal government. Additionally, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had also expressed his intention to remove Brown for these reasons.
Who will be the successor to Charles Q. Brown as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
The retired Air Force Lieutenant General, Dan "Razin" Caine, has been proposed as the successor to Charles Q. Brown. Trump emphasized Caine's credentials as a national security expert and his experience in interagency and special operations, as well as his role in the annihilation of the ISIS caliphate during Trump's first term.
What implications does the dismissal of high-ranking military officials have for U.S. defense policy?
The dismissal of high-ranking military officials such as Brown and Franchetti reflects a shift in U.S. defense policy under the Trump administration. This shift focuses on eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and prioritizing a more traditional defense strategy. The administration seeks a more conservative approach to military management, centered on modernization and addressing international threats.
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