Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had openly questioned whether history-making Air Force General CQ Brown Jr. was appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff based on merit or race. On Friday, Donald Trump abruptly fired Brown, a respected officer, and the first Black fighter pilot to hold the position, as part of a broader effort to purge military leaders who support diversity and equity.
Brown’s dismissal comes three months after Hegseth, who assumed the role of defense secretary last month, laid out a plan to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the military. During a November interview on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast, Hegseth declared:
“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Any general, admiral, or whatever, that was involved in any of that DEI woke shit has got to go.”
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, had met regularly with Brown but had publicly cast doubt on whether he was selected for his skills or his race. In one of his books, he wrote:
“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt – which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t much matter.”
Brown, widely praised for breaking racial barriers and his “warfighter” credentials, acknowledged past discrimination in the military when he was sworn in as Air Force Chief of Staff in 2020. He credited previous Black service members for paving the way, stating:
“It is due to their trials and tribulations in breaking barriers that I can address you today as the Air Force Chief of Staff.”
Trump himself celebrated Brown’s confirmation in 2020, highlighting that he was the first African American military service chief and emphasizing his qualifications, particularly his experience commanding Pacific Air Forces.
Following Brown’s removal, Hegseth defended the decision, stating:
“Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting, and winning wars.”
Despite calling Brown a “thoughtful adviser,” Trump announced on his social media platform that he would replace him with retired Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, claiming Caine had been unfairly passed over for promotion by President Joe Biden.
Trump praised Caine for his past military service, particularly for assuring him during his first administration that the Islamic State (ISIS) could be defeated quickly. On Truth Social, 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.”
At CPAC in 2019, Trump recounted a conversation in which he claimed to have asked Caine how fast ISIS could be defeated, to which Caine allegedly responded:
“Sir, we can have it finished in one week.”
However, fact-checkers at the time found the story inconsistent with known military operations.
Caine, who is white, previously served as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the CIA and played a key role in Washington, D.C.’s air defense during the September 11 attacks. He later became a venture partner at Shield Capital, which highlighted his success in co-founding aerospace, defense, and healthcare companies.
Trump’s decision triggered turmoil at the Pentagon, which is already bracing for significant changes under his administration, including civilian staff firings, a budget overhaul, and shifts in military deployments under his “America First” foreign policy. In his post, Trump also announced plans to replace five other top military officials.
Shortly after, Hegseth clarified Trump’s intent, stating that the administration was seeking nominations for:
- Chief of Naval Operations
- Air Force Vice Chief of Staff (replacing Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Gen. James Slife)
- Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy, and Air Force
While Caine has held various combat and special operations roles, he does not meet the statutory qualifications for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act, which requires prior service as Vice Chair, a Combatant Commander, or a Service Chief. However, Trump can waive these requirements if deemed necessary in the national interest.
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