The head of the Air Force Global Strike Command, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, announced on Sept. 30 that he is retiring.
Bussiere added that while he is “stepping away from active duty, my commitment to service remains,” and added he will “look forward to finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense and the incredible people who make it all possible.”
“I have full confidence that he will make sure Airmen embody a warrior ethos and are ready to defend our nation and maintain our dominance against all adversaries.”
“If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” Hegseth told military officials during the event on Sept. 30.
At the same event, Trump also delivered a speech to the military top brass, saying that the United States is “under invasion from within” and added that the military should train in “dangerous cities” across the country beset by crime.
“Just have a good time. And if you want to applaud, you applaud. And if you want to do anything you want, you can do anything you want. And if you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room. Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future, but you just feel nice and loose, OK, because we’re all on the same team,” Trump said, stressing that he was joking.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump said in a post on social media at the time.
After the decision, Trump successfully nominated and appointed Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine to be the 22nd chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.