Trump unexpectedly fires Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff

On February 21, US President Donald Trump abruptly fired Air Force General CQ Brown Jr. from his position as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the highest-ranking officer in the US military.

Brown, a four-star Air Force fighter pilot known by his nickname CQ, is only the second African-American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His ouster is sure to send shockwaves through the Pentagon. During his 16 months in office, he has faced major challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

"I want to thank General Charles CQ Brown for his more than 40 years of service to our country, including his current role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish him and his family a bright future," President Trump posted on social media.

Retired three-star Air Force General Dan Caine will replace Brown. A career F-16 pilot, Caine has served in the Army and the National Guard. Most recently, Caine was deputy director for military affairs at the CIA.

Traditionally, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff remains in office even when an administration changes. According to The New York Times , President Trump's firing of Mr. Brown is a significant reversal from 2020, when he nominated General Brown to be the US Air Force chief of staff.

The decision to fire General Brown reflects President Trump's view that the military leadership is bogged down in issues of ethnic and gender diversity, losing focus on a fighting force to protect the country and is inconsistent with the goal of "America First".

In a statement on February 21, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised both Mr. Caine and Mr. Brown, and announced the dismissal of two more senior officers: Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Commander of the US Navy, and General Jim Slife, Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Air Force.

Secretary Hegseth also supports Trump's efforts to end programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the ranks and to fire people who reflect those values.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-bat-ngo-sa-thai-chu-tich-hoi-dong-tham-muu-truong-lien-quan-my-185250222091607422.htm