Trump fires prime US common CQ Brown in shake-up at Pentagon

US President Donald Trump has fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers CQ Brown, the highest-ranking officer within the nation, as a part of a serious shake-up of prime navy management.

“I need to thank Common Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our nation,” Trump posted on social media. He mentioned 5 different prime officers had been additionally being changed.

Gen Brown was the second black officer to carry the submit, the holder of which advises each the president and the secretary of defence on nationwide safety.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had beforehand mentioned that Gen Brown ought to be fired due to his “woke” give attention to range, fairness and inclusion programmes within the navy.

Afterward Friday, Hegseth introduced the firings of two extra senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Adm Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Workers of the Air Pressure Gen Jim Slife.

Adm Franchetti was the primary girl to guide the US Navy.

All three prime officers eliminated on Friday had been appointed by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.

Hegseth mentioned in an announcement: “Below President Trump, we’re putting in new management that can focus our navy on its core mission of deterring, preventing and profitable wars.”

Trump mentioned he would nominate Air Pressure Lt Gen Dan Caine – a profession F-16 pilot who most just lately served as CIA affiliate director for navy affairs – as the brand new chairman of the joint chiefs of employees.

Final 12 months, on the Conservative Political Motion Convention, Trump recalled first assembly Gen Caine in Iraq. “He appeared higher than any film actor you may get,” Trump instructed the viewers.

In the identical speech, he praised the US navy however mentioned it was “woke on the prime”.

Gen Brown had been visiting troops on the southern US border on Friday, roughly two hours earlier than Trump’s submit saying his departure.

Rumours had been swirling this week that the president would take away the commander, whose time period was set to run out in 2027.

Gen Brown made headlines in 2020 when he spoke out about race following the demise of George Floyd.

He posted a video message to the US Air Pressure describing the pressures he had felt as one of many few black males in his unit, together with being questioned about his credentials.

In 2022, whereas chief of employees of the air drive, Gen Brown co-signed a memo setting out range targets to spice up the proportion of minority officer candidates whereas adjusting decrease the speed of white candidates, based on the Air Pressure Occasions.

Colin Powell was the primary black chairman of the joint chiefs of employees, serving from 1989-93.

Considered one of Trump’s first acts after being sworn in final month was to fireside the primary feminine commandant of the Coast Guard, citing “extreme focus” on range.

In November, earlier than he was confirmed, Hegseth mentioned on a podcast that there have been many issues within the navy, together with range initiatives, which the Trump administration ought to “course appropriate”.

“To begin with, you bought to fireside the chairman of joint chiefs,” Hegseth mentioned in describing the steps he believed Trump ought to take.

The Pentagon additionally introduced on Friday that it will reduce its finances and let go of 5,400 probationary workers subsequent week.

In the meantime, a federal court docket in Maryland quickly blocked Trump from implementing bans on range, fairness and inclusion programmes.

District Decide Adam Abelson dominated that the directives by Trump might violate free-speech rights within the US structure.