Trump Administration Ousts ‘Woke’ General, Shifts Focus To Combat Readiness
The Trump administration has replaced Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making way for a leader more focused on military effectiveness rather than diversity-driven policies.
President Donald Trump announced the decision Friday, highlighting Brown’s service while making it clear that leadership changes were necessary to ensure the military’s focus remained on warfighting. In his place, Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine will take over, a combat-experienced leader who played a critical role in eliminating ISIS.
Brown was known for championing DEI initiatives that sought to lower the percentage of white male officers in the Air Force while increasing minority recruitment. The Air Force under his leadership actively sought to limit white male applicants in officer programs, aiming for a 50% reduction by 2023.
His tenure also saw the firing of Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier from Space Force after Lohmeier exposed concerns about Marxism within military ranks. Brown’s own public comments during the George Floyd riots, in which he expressed strong emotions over the unrest, added to criticism that military leadership had become increasingly ideological.
Trump stated that his administration will rebuild the military’s strength, ensuring that warfighting remains the top priority. He also tasked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with reviewing additional top-level appointments to further reform military leadership.
