Dan Caine: Trump’s Unconventional Choice for Joint Chiefs

Trump Nominates General Dan Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

In a significant political development, former President Donald Trump announced his nomination of retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This announcement was made on Friday, following the dismissal of General Charles Q. Brown Jr., a renowned four-star fighter pilot often referred to as C.Q.

Trump’s admiration for General Caine dates back to their initial meeting in 2018. The former president recalled how Caine, during their conversation, confidently asserted that the Islamic State, an extremist group that has posed significant challenges to global security, could be defeated in merely a week. This assertion dramatically contradicted the more cautious estimates provided by senior military advisers, who had projected a two-year timeline for such a victory.

At a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last year, Trump added a colorful anecdote about a meeting with General Caine in Iraq, where he claimed that the general wore a red "Make America Great Again" hat during their discussion. This moment seemed to reinforce the strong rapport between the two men and Caine’s apparent alignment with the former president’s political views.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump elaborated on General Caine’s extensive qualifications. He highlighted Caine’s experience as an accomplished pilot, national security expert, and entrepreneur, along with his significant background in interagency and special operations. General Caine graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990 with a degree in economics and later pursued a master’s degree in air warfare at the American Military University.

With an impressive record of service, General Caine has logged 150 combat flight hours as an F-16 pilot, which underscores his operational experience. His career trajectory, however, has not followed the traditional path typically associated with Air Force generals. Caine served as a White House fellow at the Agriculture Department and subsequently worked as a counterterrorism specialist on the Homeland Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. His military career has included highly classified intelligence and special operations assignments, both domestically and internationally.

Notably, Caine was also the associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2021 to 2024. In this role, he served as the principal liaison between the CIA and the Pentagon, collaborating on several crucial classified programs and operations. Colleagues have commended him for his adept handling of military affairs and his keen insights into national security.

Reflecting on his time with the CIA, General Caine recounted his experiences on September 11, 2001, when he was the chief of weapons and tactics for the 121st Fighter Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. On that fateful day, he was responsible for the deployment of fighter jets over Washington D.C., an unprecedented action during a national crisis. He shared how the adrenaline surged as he prepared for takeoff amidst chaotic radio traffic, with emergency channels warning that any aircraft over Washington would be shot down. Caine recalled, “As my plane came to life… I remembered thinking to myself: ‘Wait. That’s me that will be shooting.’”

Trump’s accounts of his first meeting with General Caine have evolved over the years. In his earliest public recounting during the 2019 CPAC, he claimed that their interaction took place during a visit to Iraq. Trump humorously recorded their conversation, recalling how he initially misheard Caine’s name, asking, “Raisin, like the fruit?” This humorous exchange served to lighten the gravity of their discussion about military strategy and the fight against ISIS.

In subsequent retellings at other CPAC events, Trump’s timeline shifted — at one point claiming that Caine suggested a four-week timeline for defeating the Islamic State rather than the original one-week claim. This evolution of the story reflects both the fluidity of political narratives and the camaraderie Trump seeks to portray with Caine.

During his candid recollections, Trump emphasized the warmth of their interaction, stating that General Caine expressed loyalty with phrases like, “I love you, sir. I think you’re great, sir. I’ll kill for you, sir,” followed by the notable act of donning a MAGA hat. Despite military protocols that discourage active-duty personnel from wearing political paraphernalia, this anecdote had the crowd laughing and highlighted Caine’s enthusiastic support for Trump.

As the political landscape evolves, the nomination of General Dan Caine promises to bring a unique blend of military experience and strategic insight to a critical leadership role in the defense establishment. Whether he will be confirmed and what impact he will have on U.S. military policy remains to be seen as reactions from both political and military circles unfold.