Trump Fires Pro-DEI Joint Chiefs Chairman, Announces Replacement

By Cullen McCue

President Donald Trump fired Air Force General CQ Brown — a fierce defender of diversity, equity and inclusion policies — as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday. The rather abrupt firing comes as the Pentagon undergoes a long anticipated personnel shuffle.

“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 wrote in a Truth Social post after the firing was announced.

Brown, who has served in the military since 1984, was previously nominated by President Trump to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in 2020. Upon the retirement of General Mark Milley in 2023, he was appointed as joint chiefs chairman in 2023.