On Friday night, former President Donald Trump announced the removal of General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the highest-ranking officer in the Navy. Trump shared the news via his social media platform, Truth Social, and stated his intention to appoint retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine as Brown's successor. Caine is a partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm.
"I am nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Caine is an accomplished pilot, a national security expert, a successful entrepreneur, and a 'fighter' with substantial experience in interagency and special operations," Trump declared.
According to reports from American media outlets, the dismissal of these military leaders was linked to their support for diversity and equity initiatives. General Brown had faced criticism from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even before his confirmation to the position, and he continued to be a target for Trump following his 2024 election victory.
ABC News reported that Hegseth was considering removing Brown due to his alleged involvement with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. "Any general, admiral, whatever, involved in any DEI maneuvers has got to go. You're in the war fight, that's it. That's the only litmus test we care about," Hegseth reportedly stated, as per ABC.
Reports indicate that Brown's advocacy for racial equity was a significant aspect of his profile. In his message, Trump emphasized that Razin, nominated to replace Brown, played a "pivotal role in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate" during Trump's first term.
"He accomplished it in record time, just weeks. Many so-called military 'geniuses' said it would take years to defeat ISIS. General Caine, however, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered," Trump added.
Additionally, Trump expressed gratitude for Brown's over four decades of service to the nation while blaming Joe Biden for having "overlooked" General Caine. "General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America first, and rebuild our armed forces," Trump stated, revealing he had instructed Hegseth to seek candidates for five other high-level positions.
Back in June 2020, Trump had praised his decision to appoint Charles Brown as Air Force Chief of Staff amidst national tensions following the death of George Floyd in a police incident in Minneapolis. During a public appearance, Trump described the appointment day as "a historic day for America" and expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Brown. "Excited to work even more closely with Gen. Brown, who is a patriot and a great leader!" he had said at the time.
Trump's Military Leadership Shakeup
Why were General Brown and Admiral Franchetti dismissed?
They were reportedly removed due to their support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which were not aligned with the administration's priorities.
Who is Dan "Razin" Caine?
Dan "Razin" Caine is a retired Air Force Lieutenant General and a partner at Shield Capital. Trump has nominated him to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
What was General Caine's role in the fight against ISIS?
General Caine played a crucial role in the rapid defeat of the ISIS caliphate, achieving victory in a matter of weeks, contrary to the longer timelines predicted by other military experts.