Washington, D.C., February 22, 2025 – President Donald Trump has unexpectedly dismissed General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, removing a highly respected pilot and officer as part of his ongoing reshuffle of military leadership. The move is seen as an effort to sideline top military officials who have supported diversity and inclusion initiatives within the armed forces.
General Brown, the second African American to hold the position, had served 16 months in office during a period marked by the war in Ukraine and the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East. His departure is expected to have a significant impact across the Pentagon.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for over 40 years of service to our country, including his time as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish him and his family a bright future,” President Trump wrote on social media.
Trump announced that he will nominate General Dan “Razin” Caine, also from the Air Force, as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Despite strong support for General Brown among top lawmakers and a seemingly cordial meeting in December, where he and Trump sat together during the annual Army-Navy football game, the dismissal came as a surprise. Brown had also maintained regular meetings with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who took over the Pentagon just four weeks ago.
