Alright, buckle up because this is a big one. We’re talking about a historic shake-up at the highest levels of the U.S. military, and if you think this is just business as usual, think again. In a move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, President Donald Trump fired both Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations. This marks the first time in history that two members of the Joint Chiefs have been dismissed simultaneously.
Now, let’s put this into perspective. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs serves a four-year term, deliberately designed to overlap presidential elections to keep the position as apolitical as possible. In theory, this ensures continuity in military leadership, regardless of who occupies the White House. But Trump, never one to stick to tradition, decided that change was necessary—fast.
🚨BREAKING: Gen. CQ Brown, who was just fired by President Trump & @PeteHegseth was the wokest Joint Chiefs chairman in American history.
He repeatedly preached and practiced racial discrimination.
Here is a thread of damning evidence. 🧵⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xU3JN2ul9l
— American Accountability Foundation (@Theswampmonitor) February 23, 2025
To replace Brown, Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, a retired Air Force officer who’s now being brought back on active duty. Caine is no lightweight—he’s a former F-16 pilot, a veteran of Joint Special Operations Command, and a national security expert with deep ties to the intelligence community. Trump has long admired Caine, even crediting him with playing a key role in the rapid defeat of the ISIS caliphate during his first term. And in classic Trump fashion, he took a jab at Joe Biden, saying that despite Caine’s qualifications, he was “passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe.”
3/ Don’t take anyone’s word for the fact that Gen. Brown is a Woke person, who sees the world and his career almost entirely through the lens of race.
Let him tell you in his own words.
Keep in mind, this is a 4-Star General ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, explaining to you how oppressed he feels. pic.twitter.com/w24Nq26FLl— Emergent Perspective (@_emergent_) February 22, 2025
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—another major Trump ally—personally called Brown and Franchetti to inform them of their dismissal. At the time, both were traveling: Brown had just wrapped up a visit to U.S. troops on the southern border, and Franchetti was en route to a military conference in California. If that sounds abrupt, that’s because it was. And this is just the beginning. Hegseth has also indicated that other senior officers, including Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s Vice Chief of Staff, could be on their way out.
“Admiral Lisa Franchetti has overseen a U.S. Navy rife with ship collisions, crashes, shooting down of its own aircraft, and ships that exhibit more rust than paint, while the Fleet shrinks.”https://t.co/V7PtuC8j5Q
— John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) February 16, 2025
The backlash has been swift. Critics argue that this move undermines the long-standing principle of civilian control over the military. Retired Gen. George Casey, former Army Chief of Staff, warned that firing senior officers for following directives from previous administrations “undermines” military professionalism. Meanwhile, Sen. Jack Reed, a senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called the firings a “premeditated purge” that sends a dangerous message through the ranks.
On the flip side, Trump and Hegseth are making no apologies. Hegseth has been outspoken about his belief that the military has become too focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the expense of warfighting. In his book War on Warriors, he openly criticized Brown and Franchetti, questioning their qualifications and suggesting that the military should prioritize combat readiness above all else. His stance? If you were involved in DEI policies, you’re out.
This shake-up isn’t just about who’s in charge—it’s about the direction of the U.S. military. Trump and Hegseth are making it clear that their priority is to rebuild the armed forces with leaders they trust—leaders they believe will focus solely on warfighting. Whether this move strengthens or destabilizes the military remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Washington and the Pentagon won’t be the same after this.
