US President Donald Trump has fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. This move has left the position vacant since February 21, 2025. As Chairman, General Brown held the highest-ranking military position in the US Armed Forces, serving as the principal military advisor to the President and the Secretary of Defense.
President Trump announced on Truth Social that he’s nominating a retired three-star general to take over as the country’s top military officer, succeeding Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., whom he fired.
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.
Brown’s sacking comes amid a wave of administration shake-ups.
General Charles Q. Brown Jr. has been serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since October 2023, after being nominated by former President Joe Biden. Notably, he is only the second Black person to hold this position, following in the footsteps of Army General Colin Powell, who served from 1989 to 1993. As Chairman, General Brown is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.