Abdelrahman
On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Trump’s decision to dismiss the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the country’s highest-ranking military official, arguing that he was “not the right man for the moment.”
President Trump officially relieved Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. of his duties on Friday and nominated a retired three-star general as his successor. Following this announcement, Hegseth also dismissed the chief of naval operations as well as key military legal advisors from the Pentagon.
In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Hegseth stated that such actions are not unprecedented, citing historical examples of presidents—from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama—who have dismissed military officials. While no Joint Chiefs chairman has ever been overtly fired, it is noteworthy that during the George W. Bush administration, the term of Gen. Peter Pace was not renewed in 2007 due to congressional opposition.
“This reflects the president’s desire to surround himself with the right individuals to implement the national security strategy we aim to pursue,” Hegseth commented.
Conversely, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, criticized the firings as “completely unjustified.” On ABC News’s “This Week,” he expressed concerns that the administration is attempting to ensure the Defense Department operates solely under the president’s influence, stating, “They want everyone there to follow orders, irrespective of legal considerations.”
Reed further noted that the dismissal of the legal advisors was alarming, raising concerns among skilled leaders about their future in the military. He remarked, “When you plan to disregard the law, the first step is to eliminate those who uphold it.”
Hegseth dismissed these criticisms, pointing out that traditionally, senior military attorneys have been appointed by their peers. However, he expressed a desire for “fresh blood” and indicated that he plans to broaden the candidate pool for these key legal roles to ensure the selection of the most qualified military legal experts.
“Our aim is to have attorneys who provide solid constitutional guidance and are not seen as obstacles,” Hegseth emphasized.
Addressing questions about the administration’s strategy regarding the war in Ukraine and Trump’s remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Hegseth praised Trump for moving the Kremlin towards peace negotiations and defended the ongoing dialogue between Russia and the United States. Critics, including Democrats and European leaders, have expressed concerns that these discussions exclude Ukraine.
“It’s not helpful to just label figures as bad or good without offering constructive dialogue,” Hegseth stated. “Such assessments aren’t productive.”
During his interview, Reed remarked that Trump appears to be “surrendering to the Russians,” adding, “This is not a statesman or diplomat; rather, it conveys an admiration for Putin and a disregard for the struggles faced by Ukrainians, indicating a tendency to align with authoritarian regimes.”
