Trump Ousts Senior Military Leaders, Replaces Joint Chiefs Chairman and Other Top Officials

President Donald Trump made a dramatic move on Friday when he fired several of the nation’s top U.S. military leaders, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General C.Q. Brown, and replaced him with retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine. The move also included the firing of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to command the U.S. Navy, and several other top-ranking military leaders.

Trump did not say why he was dismissing Brown, but he had criticized “woke” generals in the past and attributed the disorganized U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to military leadership. Trump’s removal of these leaders comes as he aims to remake the Pentagon with a priority on his “America First” agenda, such as canceling diversity programs in the military.

The move has come under intense attack from Democrats, who argue that removing military chiefs on political terms undermines trust in the military and threatens national security. Trump’s move also comes after his bid to change command in the military, having previously relieved Admiral Linda Fagan, the first-ever female commander of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The military shifts follow Trump’s administration announcing deep reductions in civilian Pentagon personnel and a change in military priorities.