Abdelrahman
In the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death at the hands of a police officer, tensions have resurfaced between President Trump and the highest-ranking leaders of the U.S. military. Recently, the president issued an unexpected dismissal of General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a Friday night shake-up at the Pentagon. Notably, Trump did not provide a public explanation for the firing, even as General Brown, a four-star fighter pilot with an impressive 40-year military career, was attending to one of the president’s key priorities at the U.S.-Mexico border when he was let go.
Privately, Trump’s advisors cite a video recorded by General Brown in the aftermath of Floyd’s death—a pivotal event that ignited a nationwide social justice movement. In this powerful four-minute video, General Brown openly shared his reflections as an African American pilot in the Air Force, highlighting the challenges and experiences he faced.
The fallout from Floyd’s death also strained the relationship between Trump and General Brown’s predecessor, General Mark A. Milley. In the days following the incident, General Milley, dressed in his Army fatigues, joined Trump for a controversial photo opportunity during a walk across Lafayette Square. This event took place after law enforcement aggressively cleared a nearby peaceful demonstration, leading to widespread criticism of Milley for his perceived involvement in political matters.
