Mission: Control

Trump’s Hostile Takeover of the U.S. Military

At some point, military historians may call it the "Friday Night Massacre." For now, it stands as an appalling attack by former President Donald Trump on some of our nation’s most senior military leaders. These officers were dismissed from their posts without cause—a move that sends a chilling message to the entire officer corps.

Among those removed were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Four-Star General Charles Q. Brown Jr.; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General James Slife; and the top legal officers in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

It is difficult to ignore the possibility that prejudice played a role. Franchetti was the first woman to lead the Navy, and Trump has a long history of sexist remarks and actions. Brown was only the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has openly questioned whether Brown was promoted “because of his skin color.”

Beyond prejudice, these moves appear to be driven by personal politics. Trump has long sought to ensure that every government institution—even the military—is led by individuals loyal to him personally, rather than to the Constitution. Brown’s replacement, retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine, reportedly impressed Trump during a meeting six years ago. Trump himself has said that Caine "loved" him and wore a Make America Great Again cap in his presence. There is little doubt that Caine was chosen based on political loyalty rather than professional merit. (I have heard from some folks, however, that he is a good guy. Hope so.)

This marks a stark departure from long-standing norms. For generations, the U.S. military has prided itself on operating above the fray of partisan politics. Leaders have been selected based on competence, sworn to uphold the Constitution, and committed to ensuring that no president—Republican or Democrat—could use the armed forces as a personal tool. If this tradition is eroded, the United States risks becoming like nations where the military is wielded to consolidate power, suppress opposition, or support coups.

Meanwhile, another vital military institution—the JAG Corps—is also under attack. The dismissal of top JAG officers aligns with Trump’s well-documented disdain for professional, ethical lawyers. It also aligns with Hegseth’s view that military personnel should not be constrained by legal concerns in combat. Hegseth has openly mocked military lawyers, referring to them as “jagoffs,” and Trump demonstrated his stance by pardoning servicemen and military contractors convicted of war crimes during his first term.

The need for a strong, independent JAG Corps should be beyond debate. The U.S. military has long maintained high standards for battlefield conduct, ensuring that even in war, American forces adhere to ethical and legal principles. This commitment not only protects our soldiers from unlawful orders but also upholds America’s moral standing in the world. The JAG Corps prosecutes war crimes, but just as importantly, it prevents them by providing guidance on the legality of battlefield decisions. Without this safeguard, military personnel could find themselves facing impossible ethical dilemmas, and America’s global reputation could suffer irreparable harm.

With Trump and Hegseth seemingly intent on removing these constraints, the consequences could be severe. We could see a weakening of legal oversight, a loosening of enforcement standards, and an erosion of the military’s ethical foundation. This would not only endanger American troops but also diminish our standing as a nation that upholds the rule of law in conflict.

Given Trump’s history of impulsive, chaotic leadership, these actions should not surprise us. But they should alarm us. The military must remain an institution that serves the country, not a single individual. The erosion of its independence is a threat to democracy itself.

However, history is not yet written. The American people, including current and former service members, must demand accountability. Congress, military leaders, and citizens alike must push back against efforts to politicize the armed forces. We must reaffirm our commitment to a military that serves the Constitution, not any one person. If we stand together, we can ensure that this remains a nation governed by law, integrity, and the principles that have long set our armed forces apart from those of authoritarian regimes.

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