U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles Q. Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the highest-ranking military officer in the country. Additionally, Defense Secretary has announced the dismissal of Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief General James Slife.
Trump stated that retired Air Force Lieutenant General John Dunn Kane would replace General Brown. This decision is unprecedented, as Kane was brought back from retirement and is not a four-star general.
On Friday, February 21, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling General Brown a “good gentleman” and an “outstanding leader.” He also hinted at further dismissals within the military, stating that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to finalize the nominations of five more senior officials, which would be announced soon.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti was the first female Chief of Naval Operations and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump’s defense secretary had previously criticized her appointment in 2024, expressing dissatisfaction with having a woman in the role.
Trump had pledged to make significant changes in the armed forces even before taking office on January 20, and the dismissal of General Brown marks the beginning of those reforms.