Senate Confirms Trump’s Joint Chiefs Nominee Lt. Gen. Dan Caine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Retired Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine was confirmed by the Senate as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a 60-25 overnight vote. The confirmation follows President Trump’s controversial firing of Gen. CQ Brown Jr., sparking partisan tensions. Caine, despite lacking standard prerequisites, received bipartisan support.
Senate Confirms Dan Caine as Joint Chiefs Chair: Quick Looks
- Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Caine was confirmed 60-25 in an overnight vote before Senate recess.
- His nomination follows Trump’s firing of Gen. CQ Brown Jr. in February.
- Caine lacks statutory prerequisites for the role, which were waived by Trump.
- 15 Democrats and Sen. Angus King voted with Republicans in favor.
- Sen. Chuck Schumer opposed the nomination, citing outrage over Brown’s firing.
- Caine pledged to be apolitical and honest in his advice to Trump.
- Denied claims he wore MAGA gear during early meetings with Trump.
- He vowed to push back against illegal military orders.
- Trump praised Caine as “a real general, not a TV general.”
Senate Confirms Trump’s Joint Chiefs Nominee Lt. Gen. Dan Caine
Deep Look
The U.S. Senate confirmed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine early Friday morning as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, capping off a dramatic chapter in President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the military’s top leadership.
Caine was confirmed in a 60-25 bipartisan vote held just hours before lawmakers left Washington for a two-week recess. The vote followed a procedural standoff, with Senate Democrats initially opposing efforts to fast-track the nomination. Ultimately, 15 Democrats and Independent Sen. Angus King crossed party lines to support Caine.
His confirmation comes nearly two months after Trump ousted Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black chairman in U.S. history. Brown’s removal was part of what critics describe as Trump’s push to purge the military of leaders who support diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Who Is Dan “Razin” Caine?
Caine is a highly decorated F-16 combat pilot with an extensive background in special operations and classified military programs, including time with the CIA. Though he boasts an impressive service record, he does not meet the statutory requirements for the role, which call for experience as a combatant commander or service chief.
Under a 1986 law, those requirements can be waived if the president deems the appointment necessary “in the national interest”—a clause Trump invoked.
Caine’s military credentials date back decades, but his personal relationship with Trump reportedly began during a trip to Iraq in 2018. Trump has since referred to him as “a real general” in contrast to previous military leaders he deemed disloyal or too political.
A Divided Senate
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) set up the overnight vote after Democrats resisted speeding up confirmation. The move ensured the position wouldn’t remain vacant during the break but deepened partisan divides.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the confirmation, stating:
“I remain outraged by the firing of General Brown. While General Caine has served honorably, I question the administration’s intentions.”
Still, Schumer acknowledged Caine’s military record, urging him to “speak truth to power” and to “resist Donald Trump when he’s wrong.”
Caine’s Promises and Pushback
At his confirmation hearing, Caine pledged to remain apolitical and candid, emphasizing his duty to the Constitution over any individual. When asked about Trump’s claim that Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat, the general flatly denied it:
“I have never worn any political merchandise.”
He also addressed concerns about how he would respond to a potentially unlawful order from the president, particularly involving military action against civilians.
“It is the duty and the job that I have to push back,” he told lawmakers, affirming his commitment to lawful conduct.
Trump’s Broader Military Overhaul
Caine’s confirmation represents a major milestone in Trump’s second-term reshaping of the military, a campaign characterized by loyalty tests and an aggressive rejection of “woke” military culture.
Earlier this year, within hours of his inauguration, Trump removed Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait from the Pentagon and revoked his security clearance, signaling a decisive break from the previous military leadership.
During his first term, Trump’s relationship with Milley deteriorated over concerns the office was being politicized. Milley, known for reminding troops their loyalty is to the Constitution, had warned against being used for partisan purposes.
Now, Trump appears to have installed a top military advisor he views as ideologically aligned—but Caine’s own words suggest he may prove to be a more independent voice than expected.
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