Trump fires top US general in unprecedented purge of military leadership

US President Donald Trump has fired the US top general, as part of the purge of military leadership, signaling a return of chaos to the White House.

In an unprecedented move on Friday, Trump fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the president, the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.

In an announcement on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Charles Q. Brown a “fine gentleman” and an “outstanding leader,” while hinting at more firings to come. “Finally, I have also directed [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth to solicit nominations for five additional high-level positions, which will be announced soon,” he wrote.

He said he would nominate Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine - a career F-16 pilot who most recently served as CIA associate director for military affairs - as the new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Trump fired the top US general just moments before his defense secretary fired the chief of the US Navy and others in what appears to be a purge of the military’s senior leadership.

Hegseth announced on Friday that he was firing Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first female officer to rise to the Navy’s top job of chief of naval operations.

He said in a statement that he would also replace Gen. James C. Slife, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, as well as the top uniformed lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Both Admiral Franchetti and General Slife “have had distinguished careers,” Hegseth said.

“We thank them for their service and dedication to our country,” he added.

Hegseth added that he and Trump “are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars”.

Senior Republicans backed the purge of the Pentagon’s upper echelons.

“President Trump, like every president, deserves to pick military advisers that he knows, trusts and has a relationship with,” Republican senator Lindsey Graham posted on X.

During his re-election campaign, Trump had repeatedly promised his supporters he would fire all “weak” and "woke" leaders” working in the US military apparatus. 

Meanwhile, ex-White House Chief of Staff, former Chicago mayor, ex-ambassador and senior international affairs commentator, Rahm Emanuel, described the move as "very, very reckless", revealing to the world that chaos has returned to the White House with the re-emergence of Trump.

Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper, the ex-US Ambassador to Japan said Trump has made the situation in the White House "unsteady" again, projecting US "weakness."

He said Trump is "communicating chaos at home," while US adversaries were going to take advantage of the chaotic situation in the White House.

During his first year in office in his previous term, one-third of Trump’s high-level White House aides were either fired or moved.

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