Trump Dismisses Senior General Who Endorsed "Black Lives Matter"
Since assuming office last month, the US president has overturned a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The US president has focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within federal agencies.
US President Donald Trump has removed General Charles Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the dismissal of the second black commander to hold the position. Brown had publicly endorsed the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
Since taking office in January, Trump has eliminated several diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives implemented by the Biden administration across federal agencies and the military. Additionally, he has declared that the US government will recognize only two genders: male and female.
Trump shared the news of Brown’s firing on his Truth Social media platform on Friday, expressing gratitude for the general’s service.
Brown was expected to remain in his position until September 2027. The New York Times has observed that “Joint Chiefs chairmen traditionally remain in place as administrations change.”
In a 2020 video message directed at the Air Force, Brown supported the BLM protesters, recounting his personal experiences with racial bias during his career as a black officer.
The BLM movement, established in 2013, gained national visibility following the police killings of two African-Americans, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, in 2014, and the death of George Floyd in 2020. Activists within the movement argue that racism is fundamentally entrenched in US police forces, while critics of BLM contend that it incites violence and unrest.
In a November appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, now in office, stated, “first of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.” He also claimed in one of his books that Brown had “made the race card one of his biggest calling cards.”
Commenting on Trump’s decision, Democratic Senator and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed, criticized the dismissal as a means of enforcing “political loyalty tests,” particularly regarding diversity and gender issues.
Fellow Democrat Seth Moulton echoed this sentiment in a post on X, asserting that Trump’s actions exemplify the “definition of politicizing our military” and are “un-American [and] unpatriotic.”
In addition to Brown, Trump dismissed five other Pentagon officials, including Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to command the US Navy.
On the day after his inauguration, Trump also relieved Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female Commandant of the Coast Guard, from her position.
Last month, the president signed an executive order aimed at expunging “radical gender ideology” from the armed forces, effectively prohibiting “individuals with gender dysphoria” from serving in the military.
Earlier this month, addressing Pentagon personnel, the US defense secretary dismissed the phrase “diversity is our strength” as the “dumbest” in military history.
“In this department, we will treat everyone equally,” Hegseth stated, adding, “we will judge you as an individual by your merit.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has removed General Charles Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the dismissal of the second black commander to hold the position. Brown had publicly endorsed the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
Since taking office in January, Trump has eliminated several diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives implemented by the Biden administration across federal agencies and the military. Additionally, he has declared that the US government will recognize only two genders: male and female.
Trump shared the news of Brown’s firing on his Truth Social media platform on Friday, expressing gratitude for the general’s service.
Brown was expected to remain in his position until September 2027. The New York Times has observed that “Joint Chiefs chairmen traditionally remain in place as administrations change.”
In a 2020 video message directed at the Air Force, Brown supported the BLM protesters, recounting his personal experiences with racial bias during his career as a black officer.
The BLM movement, established in 2013, gained national visibility following the police killings of two African-Americans, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, in 2014, and the death of George Floyd in 2020. Activists within the movement argue that racism is fundamentally entrenched in US police forces, while critics of BLM contend that it incites violence and unrest.
In a November appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, now in office, stated, “first of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.” He also claimed in one of his books that Brown had “made the race card one of his biggest calling cards.”
Commenting on Trump’s decision, Democratic Senator and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed, criticized the dismissal as a means of enforcing “political loyalty tests,” particularly regarding diversity and gender issues.
Fellow Democrat Seth Moulton echoed this sentiment in a post on X, asserting that Trump’s actions exemplify the “definition of politicizing our military” and are “un-American [and] unpatriotic.”
In addition to Brown, Trump dismissed five other Pentagon officials, including Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to command the US Navy.
On the day after his inauguration, Trump also relieved Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female Commandant of the Coast Guard, from her position.
Last month, the president signed an executive order aimed at expunging “radical gender ideology” from the armed forces, effectively prohibiting “individuals with gender dysphoria” from serving in the military.
Earlier this month, addressing Pentagon personnel, the US defense secretary dismissed the phrase “diversity is our strength” as the “dumbest” in military history.
“In this department, we will treat everyone equally,” Hegseth stated, adding, “we will judge you as an individual by your merit.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
