On Friday night, February 21, the Pentagon was rocked by a major bombshell when President Donald Trump fired Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, announced that he was "nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan 'Razin' Caine" as a replacement.
Trump, despite having fired Brown, didn't say anything insulting about him in the Truth Social post. The president wrote, "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 did, however, insult former President Joe Biden in his post, writing, "Despite being highly qualified and respected to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the previous administration, General Caine was passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe Biden. But not anymore! Alongside Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military."
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The purge was detailed in Tom Nichol's "A Friday Night Massacre at the Pentagon.'
The firing of Brown also inspired a great deal of reactions on X.com, formerly Twitter.
Democratic consultant David Axelrod tweeted, "So the president who dodged the draft with 'bone spurs' fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — a decorated fighter pilot and Four-Star General — because he's not a 'warfighter?'"
Journalist Tara O'Grady, formerly of KTVN Channel 2 News in Las Vegas, wrote, "Trump fires top military leaders in unprecedented shakeup. The Friday night terminations include Chair of the Joint Chiefs Gen. C.Q. Brown. The firings are so Trump can replace them with Generals that will place loyalty to him over loyalty to the Constitution."
O'Grady also said of Trump, "He's taking control of the military so he can eventually use them against American citizens."
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CNN's Anderson Cooper noted Rahm Emanuel's reaction, posting, "'I think it's very, very reckless'" Former Ambassador to Japan and WH chief of staff @RahmEmanuel reacts to President Trump firing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown, his top military adviser."
Gopal Sengupta, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, tweeted, "Trump fires senior military leadership in unprecedented Pentagon purge. The president fired Joint Chiefs chairman moments before his defense secretary fired the Navy chief and others."
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jurgen Blick commented, "Trump you are starting to show your colors. I bet trump you haven't got a clue how hard this General worked to get where he saw your lies."
Gavin Barrett, a law professor at University College Dublin in Ireland, commented, "Trump’s political purge of potential opposition spreads to the military Trump/Hegseth -fire the top US military officer for political reasons. -fire the top military lawyers for political reasons. -fire thousands of civilian staff (as a start)."
Politico's Paul McLeary posted, "WIPED OUT: Trump gutted the Joint Chiefs Friday night, firing Chairman Gen. CQ Brown - while he was visiting troops in Texas - and @SecDef said he will also replace Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti and UASF vice chief Gen. James Slife."
Democratic activist/content creator Harry Sisson wrote, "Donald Trump just fired Joint Chiefs Chairman CQ Brown and provided no reason for doing so. This is part of Trump’s attempt to purge the military of anyone who isn’t loyal to MAGA. Absolute insanity."
Former Pentagon official Chris Meagher tweeted, "Sad day for America. Trump fired CQ Brown and several other proven warfighters and leaders of the US military. Glad to join @kaitlancollins to discuss what our country will be losing in Chairman Brown - a calm, prepared, focused mil advisor on critical natl security matters."
Political strategist Chris D. Jackson lamented, "BREAKING: President Trump just fired Joint Chiefs Chairman CQ Brown—no reason given. That’s another highly qualified African American official ousted, only to be replaced by a white guy. This is what "America First" looks like? So sad."
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