The Trump administration has removed Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing him with a combat-experienced leader who will shift the military’s focus back to operational effectiveness.
President Donald Trump announced the decision Friday, commending Brown’s service but stating that leadership changes were necessary to ensure the military prioritizes combat readiness over politically driven initiatives. Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine has been tapped as his replacement, praised for his role in rapidly defeating ISIS during Trump’s first term.
BREAKING: Trump just replaced Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles “CQ” Brown.
Dan Caine has been selected to replace him.
Woke is being removed from the military! pic.twitter.com/QuHawygLfj
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 22, 2025
Brown, appointed by Joe Biden, was a strong advocate for DEI policies in the Air Force. Under his leadership, recruitment efforts actively sought to reduce white male officer applicants while increasing minority recruitment. His tenure also included the firing of former Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier, who had spoken out against the spread of Marxist ideology in the military.
JUST IN: General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters he plans to stay in his position.
Brown is obsessed with race-based diversity quotas. He signed a memo stating his "goal" is to reduce the number of White Males in the Air Force.
This man… pic.twitter.com/nxtpMrB7HV
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 20, 2025
During the George Floyd riots, Brown released a widely criticized video expressing strong personal emotions about the protests, raising concerns about the military’s neutrality in political matters. His DEI-driven approach faced backlash for undermining merit-based promotions and weakening military readiness.
For all the leftists and politicized military pundits lamenting the dismissal of General Charles Q. Brown, where was your wailing about national security when Barack Hussein Obama fired nearly 200 Generals in five years? General Brown was released because he felt it more…
— Allen West (@AllenWest) February 22, 2025
Trump stated that his administration will continue removing military leaders who stray from their primary mission. He has tasked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with reviewing top-level military appointments, with additional leadership changes expected in the coming weeks.
