White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that President Donald Trump had fired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown, citing concerns about his performance. Leavitt stated that Trump believed Brown was not meeting expectations and that a shake-up at the Pentagon was necessary due to multiple failed audits and low trust among military personnel.
Despite Trump's previous praise for Brown as a 'fine gentleman' and 'outstanding leader,' he made the decision to replace him with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan 'Razin' Caine. This move was considered unusual as Caine is not a four-star general and had already retired from active duty.
Leavitt defended Trump's decision to dismiss Brown, stating that such actions are common when transitioning between administrations. However, Brown's removal was notable as he still had years remaining in his term, which was set to conclude in 2027.
Charles Q. Brown, who became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2023, was the first to be fired from the position before completing his term. This decision raised questions, especially considering Trump's previous positive remarks about Brown when appointing him as the first African American military service chief.
When questioned about Trump's earlier praise for Brown, Leavitt simply stated, 'I think replacing him speaks for itself.' The sudden change in leadership at the Pentagon has sparked discussions and speculation about the future direction of the Department of Defense under the Trump administration.
