Who Is CQ Brown, Why Trump Fired Him And Two Other Military Officers?- wna24

Washington: US Air Force General CQ Brown Jr was fired by President Donald Trump on Friday as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This move sidelined a trailblazing fighter pilot and respected officer, part of Trump’s campaign to remove military leaders supporting diversity and equity in the armed forces.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the dismissal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, General James Slife, ending their respective tenures.

Trump wishing for Brown’ life ahead, wrote on social media, “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

“He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump added.

Gen CQ Brown was the second black officer to hold the post. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier called for Gen. Brown’s firing, criticizing his focus on “woke” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the military.

Two hours before the U.S. President announced Gen. Brown’s departure, the general had been visiting troops at the southern US border on Friday.

Brown’s public support of Black Lives Matter following the police killing of George Floyd made him a target in the administration’s battle against “wokeism” in the military. 

His ouster adds to the ongoing turmoil at the Pentagon, which is set to cut 5,400 civilian probationary workers next week and find $50 billion in program cuts to redirect those savings to fund Trump’s priorities.

The removal of General Brown, only the second Black general to serve as chairman, is likely to send shock waves throughout the Pentagon. His 16-month tenure was dominated by the war in Ukraine and the growing conflict in the Middle East.