President Donald Trump is making moves to seize control of the Ministry of National Defense by abruptly replacing military leadership. In the United States, it has been customary for military leadership to be guaranteed their terms even when administrations change, but President Trump is analyzing this as an opportunity to reorganize the Ministry with individuals who are absolutely loyal to him.
On the 21st (local time), President Trump suddenly dismissed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown and appointed retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan LaChaine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The dismissed Chairman Brown was a former fighter pilot and the second African American to serve as Chairman in U.S. history. He took office on Oct. 1, 2023, for a four-year term but has now left office before completing even half of his term. Along with this, President Trump also instructed the replacement of five military leaders, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, launching a major personnel overhaul.
President Trump's actions are unprecedented and controversial. Typically, in the U.S., when a new administration takes over, high-level civilian positions like the Minister and Vice Minister of Defense are replaced, but the military leadership, as active-duty generals, is customarily protected from political influence and guaranteed their terms. The Washington Post (WP) pointed out that "With the purging at the Pentagon, President Trump is driving the military into uncharted territory" and added that "the sudden dismissal of six military commanders has deepened concerns among those who criticize the president."
U.S. CNN reported that "President Trump seeks to keep the Ministry of National Defense under his control" and noted that "as president, he has the authority to pursue this, but the dismissal of Brown and Franchetti suggests that 'absolute loyalty' will be the top priority in appointments." This implies a potential deviation from the military's primary role of providing military advice, swaying according to political inclinations.
President Trump has shown a long-standing strong interest in the military. He attended a military boarding school in New York and cites General George Patton, known for his aggressive tactics during World War II, as one of his respected figures. This has led to an obsession with military power and military events, with President Trump tending to view the military as a symbol of his personal power. A notable example is when he showcased military power during the Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2019, explaining the display of F-22 Raptors and B-2 stealth bombers.
The reason President Trump seems to want to seize control of the Ministry of National Defense is that he does not want military leadership opposing his policies. During his first term, he appointed generals like James Mattis, John Kelly, and H.R. McMaster to key positions, but conflicts arose as they opposed or slowed down President Trump's policies. McMaster was dismissed after advocating for an increase in U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, and Mattis resigned after clashing with President Trump over U.S. withdrawal from Syria.
In particular, the conflict between military leadership and President Trump intensified following the death of George Floyd in 2020. During that time, crowds peacefully protesting near the White House faced harsh crackdowns from police and National Guard members, after which President Trump posed for a photo holding a Bible in front of St. John's Church. In response, Mattis publicly criticized, stating that "Trump does not seek to unite the people but rather to divide them." Subsequently, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper refused Trump's demand for active-duty military deployment, and six months later, he was dismissed via Twitter.
The traces of conflict accumulated during his first term have acted as reasons for President Trump to completely seize control of the Ministry of National Defense. CNN reported, "The purging of military leadership is just the beginning. Secretary of Defense Heggs plans to make large-scale cuts to the Ministry of National Defense budget, and further reductions in military personnel are anticipated in the future."