newYou can listen to Fox's news articles!
“Our standards are high, uncompromising, and clear.” – Secretary of Message to Clergy Forces of the Ministry of Defense, January 25, 2025
The selection of chairmanship for President Donald Trump's co-chief of staff, General General (LTG) Dan Kane (retired), holds an extraordinary service record for Iraq, the Special Access Program and the National Guard. There is no doubt about his ability to lead, his commitment to our country, his character, courage, or ability.
However, these are not the qualifications required by law to become a senior service member in our military. Federal law requires that the chairman be active and serves one of three senior positions. Kane cannot meet any of these.
The President can waive most qualifications if he determines it is in our “national interest.” But the only justification that President Trump has said he abandoned these legal standards in this example is to remember him saying he “loved” Trump and “killed” for Trump, Kane proudly wore a Maga hat — as Trump erupted, would be a violation of federal law.
The general general who helped Trump destroy Isis terrorists in the first term was confirmed as co-chief chairman.
Oddly, Kane has denied that he did these things. Which means Kane lies, or he tells the truth, and isn't justified by Trump.
For President Trump, “national interest” appears to mean personal loyalty.
Kane's nomination is the latest example of President Trump's pattern Presidential Pattern, multiple reckless, sudden bursts, and the army of officers who perform most from mission-critical roles. why? Was it because they have promised loyalty to the Constitution on his behalf? These shootings have absolutely nothing to do with supporting high standards. They are about prioritizing loyalty over qualifications and putting national security at risk in the process.
The only reason this chair's vacancy exists in the first place is because President Trump, who serves in his role for no reason, was unexpectedly fired from excellence General CQ Brown Jr.
General Brown not only fulfilled the legal qualifications to become chairman. He embodied them. He brought 40 years of honorable service to the Air Force to oversee US military operations in at least six active war zones and advised the Secretary of Defense on his response to three tense international crises. Before becoming chairman, General Brown served as chief of staff in the Air Force, commanding the Pacific Air Force, flying over 3,100 hours in over 130 battles.
By firing such an exemplary officer and replacing him with someone who rightly or wrongly contests President Trump, our commander has declared his loyalty to him, and our commander sends a dangerous message to his loyalty, even with his commitment to supporting the law.
General Brown's dishonorable treatment was not an isolated incident.
President Trump has fired at least 10 senior military officers, experts. Most of them were women or people of color, some of them (like Kane) have reached legal qualifications to become chairman.
These were the warriors at the top of their game: Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman in the Navy, served as chief of the Navy operations. Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female Coast Guard commander to lead all seven continents. Jennifer Li Short is a command pilot who has completed more than 1,800 flight times over a 30-year career. Lieutenant General Territa Crossland was kicked out of the Defense Health Agency after a 32-year career.
For more information about Fox News, click here
And this month, Trump fired Vice-General Shawshana Chatfield, who had a 36-year career serving as the first female president of the Naval War College, and had a 36-year career, including General Tim Howe, the high-performance commander of the US cyber commander and director of the National Security Agency.
These were all highly qualified military leaders and were immediately fired for Trump's choice to replace them by appointing deep unqualified appointees.
Trump's employment decisions laugh at meritocracy, downplay the sacrifices of our military personnel, and do nothing to strengthen our strength and national security. Even the past five defense secretaries agreed, “None of this is about combat.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
Setting up a Loyalist at the top of the army is something that a dictator does when he is trying to take control of the government. Trump aims to invade a culture of terror that makes it difficult for our military to speak the truth for power and support their oaths to support and defend the Constitution.
What we saw is that what happens with Kane's nomination is not unusual. It's part of a deliberate purge of expertise from our military, eroding the very institutions that Americans rely on to keep them safe. My Republican colleagues need to stop making Trump's dictatorial tendencies possible and start doing more to protect the military personnel who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us.
