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Welcome to logoff. Today, my colleague Joshua Keating and I focus on the firing of Donald Trump's high-ranking military personnel.
What's the latest? On Friday night, Trump fired Charles Q. Brown Jr. (chairman of Chief of Staff) and appointed Lieutenant General Duncanne, who retired to replace him. Also, three of the Naval Operations Chief, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Air Force and the top military personnel were fired.
Can Trump do this? yes. The President is the Commander-in-Chief and has the authority to choose leadership. Kane needs confirmation of the Senate's new position. Legally, only four-star generals qualify for that position, and Kane is three-star, but the president has the legal right to waive that requirement in certain circumstances.
Why did Trump change personnel changes? Brown saw diversity, equity and inclusive efforts as essential to the military's functional capabilities, but Trump and new Defense Secretary Pete Hegses criticize efforts such as distractions.
Hegseth said on Fox News Sunday that he hopes it doesn't exist to give constitutional advice and not try to avoid trying to have anything obstacles. I did. He also said current lawyers will be chosen by the insider pool and their replacements will shake up the status quo.
What is the overall picture? General Mark Milley, the first-term chairman of Trump's co-chief, said he feared that Trump would send domestic forces in illegal ways. If Trump tries to do that now, senior military leaders will face the choice to either carry out his orders or become a “deficiency.”
After Friday night's fire, Trump has the ability to set up a select group of officers to lead the world's most powerful combat forces. Those people are tasked with fulfilling their oath to the Constitution, even if it means opposing Trump.
And so, it's time to log off…
Did you know that the reason our fingerprints are unique is that they don't have the same pattern of spots and the same reason that two zebras don't have the same stripes? It is all related to what is called the “Turing Pattern.” This is all new to me and I learned it from this fascinating video from my colleague Coleman Lawns. I hope you enjoy it. Please come back here tomorrow.
