Too woke? Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff removed from post by Trump

President Trump has sacked the United States' highest-ranking officer in what is being seen as a massive shake-up at the Pentagon.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Air Force General Charles "CQ" Brown, had been the highest-ranking officer until he was removed from his post.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nation's principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.

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"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," Mr Trump posted on Truth Social.

"He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family."

President Trump said he was nominating retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Mr Caine is a former F-16 pilot who served in the regulars and in the reserve National Guard, and was most recently the previous director for military affairs at the CIA.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the firings of two additional senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife.

Adm Franchetti was the first woman to lead the US Navy.

In a written statement, Mr Hegseth welcomed President Trump's nomination for the new chairman, saying: "General Caine embodies the warfighter ethos and is exactly the leader we need to meet the moment. I look forward to working with him.

"Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars."

The Defence Secretary had previously said Gen Brown should be fired because of his "woke" focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military.

Following the death of George Floyd, Gen Brown had openly spoken out about race and his experience in the military.

Gen Brown earned his commission in 1984 and has more than 3,100 flight hours under his belt, primarily in the F-16 fighter jet, including 130 combat hours, and has flown 20 additional fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Gen Brown previously commanded a fighter squadron, the US Air Force Weapons School, two fighter wings, and twice served as a Combined Air Component Commander with command tours at US Air Forces Central Command and Pacific Air Forces.

He also spent time at the US Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 instructor.