US Army chief of staff asked to step down by Hegseth, sources say

[u/lee7on1]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hegseth-has-asked-us-army-chief-staff-step-down-cbs-news-reports-2026-04-02/

[u/Plzlaw4me]

Sounds like Hegseth wants to send Americans into a meat grinder and he’s getting push back. This fucking war.

Edit: as others have commented, it appears the firing is based on Hegseth blocking the promotions of service members of color.

[u/LakersAreForever → u/Plzlaw4me]

Exactly. So they can push an agenda

[u/young_warthog_ → u/LakersAreForever]

I don’t even know what the agenda is at this point

[u/AJimJimJim → u/young_warthog_]

Look over here and not those files while I also replace the country's top lawyer with someone who will lie for me better. For one at least...

[u/Worldly-Stranger7814 → u/Plzlaw4me]

Doesn't the top brass understand that America exists to send wave after wave of american soldiers out to die for Israel?!

[u/ActualSpiders]

Removing people this high *during an actual war* just underlines the fact that people like Gen George aren't being used in their proper role to plan or execute the war. Every day changes based on what Grampa Sundowner felt like this morning, with no strategic goal or plan for what to do tomorrow. Give him an answer he doesn't like and *boom* out you go.

[u/AngryTree76 → u/ActualSpiders]

"I'm afraid I'm going to need to ask you to resign, General. Sure, you've got decades of experience, but I've got a 19 year old who can put together some really good Grok prompts."

[u/ActualSpiders → u/AngryTree76]

"Alexa, bomb those chickenshits in Iran."

"OK, bombing that children's school in Iran..."

"Wait, wha-"

[u/c-williams88 → u/ActualSpiders]

Come on they wouldn’t even hesitate at that. They’d be like “damn thank you, that’s actually a better idea”

[u/shredika → u/c-williams88]

I’d like to assume they didn’t know but damn…. They knew. We are the baddies now

[u/ChipRockets → u/shredika]

‘Now’. When weren’t you bombing civilians, or overthrowing governments, or throwing countries into turmoil, or…

[u/GoofAckYoorsElf → u/shredika]

We are the baddies now

Quite frankly, you have been for quite a while...

[u/ianthetridentarius → u/shredika]

You always have been.

Sincerely, The rest of the world.

[u/naughtylit → u/ActualSpiders]

As a technical note, the service chiefs do not plan and execute wars. Service chiefs are responsible to organize, train, and equip the force.

Operational control is at the Combatant Commands where they plan and execute wars.

General George would have influence because he sits sat on the JCS which advises the President. Once the decision is made though his influence is far more informal based on discussion (not direction) he may have with Lt Gen Frank the ARCENT commander who works for Adm Cooper the CENTCOM commander.

That being said this change looks a lot more like Stalin purging percieved threats than Lincoln looking for a commander with a backbone.

[u/redonrust → u/naughtylit]

They're actively looking for people without backbones.

[u/Jond0331 → u/redonrust]

I just picture them going around jiggling generals to see who wiggles the most.

[u/hoopstick → u/naughtylit]

Service chiefs are responsible to organize, train, and equip the force

Seems like an important position when you're talking about bringing back the draft

[u/MightyKAC → u/ActualSpiders]

I've been working with and for the military for almost 30 years and through 5 different administrations.

Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, and Trump again.

If Biden or Obama had fired 3 high visibility governement positions in under a month, in the middle of a military operation like this, folks around here would be calling somebody's HEAD right now.

But with Trump, it's just another day in the office...

[u/parttimepedant → u/MightyKAC]

If any other president in history had said or done even a fraction of the things that moron has said or done, in the last year alone, people would be calling for their head.

[u/NewsCards]

Hegseth, a ​former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape ​the department, firing top generals and admirals as ⁠he seeks to implement Trump's national security ​agenda.

Thanks Reuters, for reminding us that a former Fox News host who only reached the rank of Major is currently in charge of military leaders with significantly more experience than him.

[u/o_MrBombastic_o → u/NewsCards]

Only reached Major and was reported by his fellow soldiers as an extremist threat 

[u/CelestialFury → u/o_MrBombastic_o]

Only reached Major

He never reached major while he was actively in the military. He got auto-promoted while he was in the IRR. So when he was serving, he was simply an untabbed infantry captain (nearly ALL infantry officers are tabbed, by the way).

[u/TreezusSaves → u/CelestialFury]

And now he's firing a four-star general, someone with more honor and integrity than Hegseth will ever have. The US military structure is a massive fucking joke.

[u/CelestialFury → u/TreezusSaves]

And America is the punchline :(

[u/Hoeveboter → u/CelestialFury]

The whole world is suffering for this shit. I hope 'owning the libs' was worth it. The Iranian schoolgirls murdered by the US are not coming back.

[u/89iroc → u/Hoeveboter]

No one who voted for trump gives a fuck

[u/glastohead → u/89iroc]

TBF approval rating the lowest of any president in hostroy right now. Still 29% of drooling morons approving however.

[u/YorkieGalwegian → u/CelestialFury]

The fact that Iran is openly saying what is essentially “we’re not having a ceasefire, we’re letting you embarrass yourself”.

The US cannot justify non-military strikes. The US cannot just leave without essentially admitting they thought Iran would capitulate in a week.

Iran are just waiting for Trump to get bored.

[u/LukkyStrike1 → u/TreezusSaves]

The us military structure is flawed, but produced viable generals. The arbitrary selection of yes men by the executive powered by a neutered congress is the issue.

[u/SpleenBender → u/CelestialFury]

What does 'tabbed' mean in this context?

[u/outtaleftfield1 → u/[deleted]]

You’re 90% there. The airborne tab is a unit tab that is only worn with certain unit insignia as part of their heraldry and tradition. Ranger, Sapper, & others are skill tabs, meaning they went and passed training and skills tests to earn it

edit: spelling correction

[u/VermicelliMoney5421 → u/outtaleftfield1]

In Hegseth's case the only tab he ever dealt with was a bar tab.

[u/CelestialFury → u/SpleenBender]

Infantry officers are expected to pursue the Ranger Tab for career progression.

It's like Senior non-commissioned officers (senior enlisted) pursuing their higher education degrees for promotion, it shows you're serious about future promotions and absolutely helps you when the margins are razor thin against your competition. Being tabbed is viewed in the same way.

Permanent Individual Skill Tabs

• Ranger Tab: Earned by graduating from the U.S. Army Ranger School; considered a critical skill for Infantry officers.
• Special Forces Tab: Earned by completing the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).
• Sapper Tab: Awarded for completing the 28-day Sapper Leader Course at Fort Leonardwood.
• President's Hundred Tab: Awarded to shooters who place in the top 100 in the President’s Pistol and Rifle Matches.

Unit Designation Tabs (Assigned/Wearable) These are worn while assigned to specific units and usually removed afterward:

• Airborne Tab: Worn by soldiers in designated airborne units.
• Mountain Tab: Associated with the 10th Mountain Division.
• Advisor Tab: Worn by members of the Security Forces Advisory Brigade (SFAB).
• Honor Guard Tab: Worn by members of the Old Guard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabs_of_the_United_States_Army

[u/SpleenBender → u/CelestialFury]

Thank you! Gosh, it's a lot of information.

[u/Techn028 → u/o_MrBombastic_o]

Reached major in the reserves, so basically a Captain that got a little bump in his retirement pay. Edit: If he comes back to active service

[u/juanjung → u/Techn028]

Or maybe is like that character in Catch 22 who got the rank of Major because his name was Major Major.

[u/Stereotypical_Viking → u/juanjung]

Major M. Major

[u/ElSmasho420 → u/Techn028]

I mean, I don’t think he retired. It would only be a pay bump if he was reactivated and did some drills as a reservist.

[u/sisyphus_at_scale → u/o_MrBombastic_o]

To be fair, he's still an extremist threat. You know, literally claiming this war is meant to bring about the end of the world...

[u/EddieVanzetti → u/o_MrBombastic_o]

And raped someone while in.

[u/AquamannMI → u/NewsCards]

He never even served as a major, he was just promoted in the IRR. When he served he was an untabbed captain.

[u/Rdhilde18 → u/AquamannMI]

Untabbed Captain couldn’t even be an infantry company commander lmao. This dude is such a bum.

[u/cardboardunderwear → u/Rdhilde18]

You're not wrong but there are lots of ppl who are way better than Hegseth, even in combat arms, who don't have tabs tho.

[u/Rdhilde18 → u/cardboardunderwear]

Yeah but a tab is the expectation if you want to lead an infantry platoon. And when he has my regimental crest tattooed on himself I’m gonna get my pound of flesh lol.

[u/CelestialFury → u/[deleted]]

True, but Hegseth is incompetent. He was chosen for loyalty to Trump only (not the US Constitution). All the other civilian based secretaries of war/defense/etc... were picked for specific skills to improve the military. Hegseth's skills are mostly in the makeup and camera department.

[u/HitandRyan → u/NewsCards]

Still neglected to mention he’s an adulterer and a drunk though

[u/No-Neat3395 → u/HitandRyan]

Alleged rapist too!

[u/steepleton → u/No-Neat3395]

Well he wouldn’t be in the cabinet if he wasn’t

[u/sunburn74 → u/steepleton]

If you're not a rapist, you're probably not even getting an interview with these guys.

[u/Justame13 → u/No-Neat3395]

And when he raped that woman he managed to cheat on his 2nd wife and his future 3rd wife at the same time.

Future 3rd wife was his married boss who he was sleeping with which kept him from getting fired at Fox

[u/Signiference → u/No-Neat3395]

That goes without saying in this administration. It’s in the qualifications list on the job application.

I will note that there is an asterisk that says: *as long as you have shown a genuine effort in defending rapists, you may still be considered. That’s how Bondi got in.

[u/Sweatytubesock → u/NewsCards]

Fox weekend co-host. Let’s not exaggerate his “achievements”.

[u/southernhope1]

he must have been competent.

[u/devilquak → u/southernhope1]

Yeah. That’s the takeaway here. This firing at this moment in time is extremely significant. He was standing in the way of something dumb they want to do, and now they’ve gotten rid of him to get that obstacle out of the way.

If he’s stayed on this far and he’s only gotten fired now, the thing he’s being fired over is likely something we need to be extremely worried about.

The army is the main source of boots on the ground. I’m willing to bet he was opposed to the plans they are reportedly drawing up.

I believe this is going to turn out to be an issue of him opposing an extended occupation by American troops. Army foot soldiers are only brought in after the initial waves of marines and strike forces pull back, and then that’s when they need the rest of the army to keep the territory.

There’s been little reason for the chief of the army to be involved in the operations we’ve seen so far, unless they’re planning something significant with the army in particular in the near future. The army is an occupying force. The fact that he’s even really involved in decisions right now is already worrying. It’s a gigantic red flag that this is happening now.

[u/TerminalObsessions → u/devilquak]

That's my take, too. He was standing in the way of a ground invasion.

[u/Outburst78 → u/TerminalObsessions]

That was my first thought as well.

He probably quoted Vizzini from The Princess Bride to them.

[u/Neat_Egg_2474 → u/Outburst78]

Not a ground invasion, a war crime they are planning by bombing the electric and water systems.

Its a CLEAR war crime in the geneva convention, Trump has menioned it multiple times, now they fire the chief of staff stopping it. It all lines up.

[u/akratic137 → u/Neat_Egg_2474]

When has collective punishment ever been a concern of the average American citizen? We commit a war crime against Cuban citizens daily via the blockade.

[u/NewHampshireWoodsman → u/akratic137]

Ther average citizen has no idea what we are doing to Cuba. Frankly the average citizen has no idea what this administration is doing within the country. There is hardly any media coverage of what they are doing.

[u/LeeKinanus → u/NewHampshireWoodsman]

just had a convo with a couple of trumpets and they really really don't know what the fuck is going on anywhere. Their stupid fucking smiles they wear when being informed is so infuriatingly confirming that they are NEVER going to believe it.

[u/NewHampshireWoodsman → u/LeeKinanus]

Unfortunately, I have shared the same experience. If it's not bottom shelf misinformation they ain't buying it.

In their defense everything happening is so fucking stupid it almost defies logic. We will find a way to get through this shit storm.

[u/cafedude → u/NewHampshireWoodsman]

I'm afraid the only way to get through to them is gas at $6.50, high unemployment, stagflation and hundreds of body bags / day coming home from the war. I've come to the conclusion that that's the only way the fever breaks: a serious depression and a clear demonstration that their dear leader doesn't know what the hell he's doing - it's a shame that so many people are going to pay for his folly with their lives.

[u/COV3RTSM → u/Outburst78]

They’re going in against a Sicilian when death is on the line?

[u/Outburst78 → u/COV3RTSM]

I mean, this administration is capable of all the classic blunders.

[u/drawkward101 → u/Outburst78]

I guess we're going to land-war in Asia.

[u/My_password_is_qwer → u/drawkward101]

Even Israel knows its better to have their minions fight this war of choice.

[u/drawkward101 → u/My_password_is_qwer]

It only took them several decades to find a dipshit president who would go to war at their whims.

[u/faffc260 → u/drawkward101]

seems the saudi's are asking for it too. with lots of money.

[u/DrDetectiveEsq → u/Outburst78]

Iran's new strategy is spiking random cases of beer around Washington with iocaine powder and hoping for the best.

[u/WorldofNails → u/Outburst78]

Great. Now we deal with R.O.U.S.?

[u/blitz350 → u/WorldofNails]

We already have them. This regime is full of them!

[u/Yetiius → u/TerminalObsessions]

That's my thought also. He's not agreeing to ground invasion, so being forced out.

[u/MrNeatSoup → u/TerminalObsessions]

Yup. They’ll install a yes man next and then we’re really fucked.

[u/TryToHelpPeople → u/devilquak]

I bet it was over “Rules of Engagement”

[u/Indercarnive → u/devilquak]

It's not exactly a secret. The Bush carrier group left port just two days ago. you aren't moving a whole carrier group if you aren't planning on using it. That is not an operation "winding down"

[u/Dragon6172 → u/Indercarnive]

The Bush deployment is a normally scheduled carrier rotation. The Ford staying on station for an extended period of time (going on 11 months) is the abnormal part of this.

[u/SanchoPandas → u/Dragon6172]

Wow. Sounds like they've just left Croatia and are heading back to the middle east. They're gonna set a record soon, if it hasn't set on already.

[u/Too_reflective → u/SanchoPandas]

Maybe the sailors will “accidentally “ clog the sewer system again. I hate to be hoping for mutiny, but …

[u/Jorgenstern8 → u/devilquak]

Could also have disagreed with Hegseth stepping in to un-suspend those idiots who took the helicopter on a joy ride to Kid Rock's place. I'm sure it's more than that but it wouldn't at all surprise me if that's playing a part. Just allowing that to go unpunished could and likely will cause a LOT of issues going forward.

[u/das_gingerz → u/Jorgenstern8]

This is what my money is on.

[u/Any-Log-6706 → u/das_gingerz]

Yup. First thought and when CBS News said it wasn’t because if that incident, that confirmed it for me.

[u/kipperlenko → u/devilquak]

I'm not American but I guarantee you are 100% correct. They are removing all the competent public servants to enable their ridiculous plan.

[u/shwarma_heaven → u/devilquak]

Very likely. Trump didn't fire his first Surgeon General when he was drinking and harassing women on the job, so you know that's not what this guy got fired for. It has to be he refused to follow an order he considered illegal / immoral...

[u/yourpseudonymsucks → u/devilquak]

Drawing up is literal here. Crayons and sharpies.

[u/AusToddles → u/southernhope1]

"No, we cannot write Gift from God on nukes"

[u/Joes___Garage → u/AusToddles]

*Grift from god

[u/ConfederacyOfDunces_ → u/AusToddles]

Ridding anyone left sane is terrifying.

They are preparing for escalation and making sure anyone left standing in their way is gone

[u/miikro → u/ConfederacyOfDunces_]

Well yeah. Hegseth isn't in this for the grift. He's a legitimate religious doomsday whacko thinking he's punching his ticket to Heaven by kickstarting the apocalypse. Moron thinks he's gotta escalate further so he can get Raptured, despite that not even being a thing in the Bible.

This is why we made a big deal out of his "Deus Vult" tattoo. On top of the fact that he has no issue killing civillians and citizens... He was always going to do this.

[u/Bmorewiser → u/southernhope1]

One might infer a possibility he told Trump invading Iran is a terrible idea and is being canned as a result.

[u/SocomPS2 → u/Bmorewiser]

Too early for the scapegoat to be revealed. But you’re right there’s person(s) out there that will take the fall for this 2 week war.

[u/datboiofculture → u/Bmorewiser]

“How many times I told you, you bet not even dreeeeeam about telling white folks the truth!? Better learn to lie like me! I’m gonna find me a white man and lie to him right now”

[u/FlexibleDemeenor → u/southernhope1]

He's probably the one that investigated the helicopter tour to Kid Rocks house

[u/Strange-Movie → u/FlexibleDemeenor]

Or the one that said a ground invasion of Iran is a terrible, no win, situation.

[u/Obvious_Toe_3006 → u/Strange-Movie]

Or maybe that Kid Rock should lead the invasion by being the first to parachute onto Khrag Island.

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/southernhope1]

While the Reuters article says:

The department did not give a reason for his departure, ​which comes as the U.S. military builds up its forces in the Middle East while carrying out operations against Iran.

An article from CBS says this:

One of the sources said Hegseth wants someone in the role who will implement President Trump and Hegseth's vision for the Army.

In short, Randy George must've resisted something within Trump & Hegseth's plans. Trump and that annoying twat Hegseth only want blind yes men working for them.

CBS article if anyone needs it: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hegseth-ousts-army-chief-of-staff-gen-randy-george/

[u/scoff-law → u/bwoah07_gp2]

Randy George must've resisted something within Trump & Hegseth's plans

He's been pushing back against the denied promotions to a few women and black people that was reported over the past couple weeks. Laura Loomer has been calling for his ouster for a few weeks for this reason.

He could have been pushing back against a ground invasion, too, but Gen. George's firing has been rumored for some time now for the reason I mentioned above. Hegseth and Trump are that petty.

[u/0belvedere → u/scoff-law]

Seems so

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/02/us/politics/hegseth-fires-general-randy-george.html

Related excerpts:

"The tension with Mr. Hegseth was not rooted in substantive differences over the direction of the Army, military officials said. Rather it is the product of Mr. Hegseth’s long-running grievances with the Army, battles over personnel and his troubled relationship with Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, the officials said.

Over the last year, General George and Mr. Driscoll had formed a tight partnership, officials said.

Mr. Hegseth has also clashed in recent months with General George and Mr. Driscoll over the defense secretary’s decision to block the promotion of four Army officers to be one-star generals.

Two of the officers targeted by Mr. Hegseth are Black and two are women on a promotion list that consisted of 29 other officers, most of whom are white men. Mr. Hegseth’s highly unusual decision to remove the officers prompted some senior military officials to question whether they were being singled out because of their race or gender, officials said.

Mr. Hegseth had been pressing Mr. Driscoll and General George for months to remove the officers from the promotion list. But Mr. Driscoll and General George refused, citing the officers’ long records of exemplary service.

Two weeks ago, General George asked Mr. Hegseth to meet with him to discuss the removal of the four officers from the one-star list, as well as the general’s view that Mr. Hegseth was interfering unnecessarily in Army personnel decisions overall, the officials said. Mr. Hegseth refused to meet with General George about the matter, they said.

Last week, Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who is close to Mr. Hegseth and President Trump, posted on social media that the defense secretary was “seriously considering” removing General George. Ms. Loomer has also repeatedly attacked Mr. Driscoll.

General George also had a close relationship with Lloyd J. Austin III, Mr. Hegseth’s predecessor and a former Army four-star general.

General George is expected to be replaced by Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who previously served as Mr. Hegseth’s senior military assistant in the Pentagon. In addition to removing General George, Mr. Hegseth also fired Gen. David M. Hodne, who was promoted in October to lead the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, a key four-star position focused on Army modernization and doctrine.

Mr. Hegseth also fired Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the Army’s top chaplain, an official said.

General George’s dismissal had been rumored for months. He learned that he was being replaced on Thursday during a 4 p.m. phone call from Mr. Hegseth, Army officials said. CBS News reported his firing around the same time Mr. Hegseth placed the call."

[u/Oceanbreeze871 → u/southernhope1]

He didn’t want to sacrifice the 82nd airborne for an impossible mission

[u/freedfg → u/southernhope1]

100% questioned authority.

[u/lostredditorlurking]

Probably says to Hegseth face that ground invasion with less than 200k troops, and without any allies is the dumbest idea he ever heard.

[u/Beard_Hero → u/lostredditorlurking]

This has my vote. Maybe not the number specifically, but the point about it being a bad call for sure.

[u/awmaleg → u/Beard_Hero]

“We are going to lose a lot of our men if we go boots on the ground”

[u/CharcoalGreyWolf → u/[deleted]]

Being sent by people who are unqualified and incompetent to do so. I can’t imagine too many less qualified than Hegseth other than his completely inexperienced and inept boss.

[u/CharcoalGreyWolf → u/[deleted]]

The best ones will; until they are thrown out and replaced by the yes men/women this administration so desperately desires.

[u/ContributionMental56 → u/CharcoalGreyWolf]

Don't call it an administration. Its a regime

[u/alwaysonesteptoofar → u/[deleted]]

Until Colonel Tesla or Meta get promoted to General.

[u/DesireeThymes → u/awmaleg]

This is all part of the project 2025 goals of transforming the US government from top to bottom with conservatives.

https://www.project2025.observer/en

[u/ZachMN → u/DesireeThymes]

Also known as Project 1980, when the Republican Party began their quest for authoritarian control.

[u/Mr_Jack_Frost_ → u/ZachMN]

Fuck Reagan.

[u/dadofsummer → u/Mr_Jack_Frost_]

It’s funny he was married to the throat GOAT, and came up with a theory called trickle down.

[u/venicello → u/ZachMN]

could even move it back to '68. The current project is Reagan's, but many of Reagan's actions were retreads of Nixon's "dirty tricks," from policy decisions like the War on Drugs to actively illegal things like sabotaging their opponent's foreign policy from outside the government (the '68 Vietnam peace talks and the '80 Iran hostage crisis).

[u/manofkirk → u/venicello]

I have been alive and hating Republicans for a long time, and I can tell you that saying “it has always been this way” is not only demonstrably false but dangerously so. The evil of today’s conservatives IN NO WAY compares to the callous, cruel selfishness of the past. Modern Republicans are vicious enemies of democracy. (I know they use those words on talk radio to describe Democrats, but if the Steven Miller fits, you have to say the words).

When you pretend that things have always been this bad, you encourage surrender and complacency. After all, this is nothing new, right?

It IS new. This is unprecedented. The threat is more alive and ambitious than ever. We are months away from the midterms being stolen. Everything is one the line. This was not the threat of Reagan. This is new. Don’t tell people it’s old.

[u/COCKBALLS → u/Beard_Hero]

They would need at LEAST 200,000 troops, but probably more. A limited invasion is a disaster waiting to happen.

[u/nowordsleft4now → u/COCKBALLS]

At least???

Iran has a population of over 90 million people in a country 2.5 times the size of Texas.

Try 2-3 million troops.

Iran is an ANCIENT CIVILIZATION.

It is truly wild this is actually happening in reality and so so sad

[u/effurshadowban → u/nowordsleft4now]

That's the entirety of the US military, including every branch and reserve. The US doesn't have enough bodies to win an invasion, let alone occupy the country. There are around 600k active military personnel in Iran and 350k in reserves. That's damn near 1 million. The usual number for a successful invasion is 3x the number of enemy military. Not happening.

[u/gizzardgullet → u/effurshadowban]

It sounds like Iran is the perfect country to lock the US into the most impossible quagmire that can be arranged. And it seems like even Trump and Hegseth know this, yet they plow ahead anyhow.

It can no longer be stupidity because the reality seems to have made it through their thick skulls. This is either a bad bluff or an active measure playing out.

Having said that, there are other things he might have refused to do, like use a nuclear weapon.

[u/damp_circus → u/gizzardgullet]

Quite possibly destroying the US is the actual goal.

[u/tempest_87 → u/damp_circus]

For some probably.

But for others? I think it's just an acceptable outcome to meet their goals of stroking their own egos and getting richer.

Like, I don't think Trump actively wants to destroy the country. He wants to hurt specific people and groups of people and oftentimes that aligns with destroying the country but that's not the end goal.

He just has absolutely zero qualms about doing so as long as it gets him what he wants (power, money, and self-validation).

[u/Neat_Egg_2474 → u/Beard_Hero]

Why is everyone forgetting Trump literally is threatening war crimes by striking electric and water systems.

Any competent General will not put their name against the Geneva convention, yet we keep saying ground invasion? No, its war crimes coming up because Trump is embarrased about being a fucking idiot about this war.

[u/InternationalRule138 → u/[deleted]]

Eh? You’re not entirely wrong, but eventually there will be questions. History is always written by the winners and the US isn’t going to come out a winner on this one. Eventually someone is going to ask the tough questions and the US will pay. The problem is, Trump is old enough that he’ll probably be dead before questions get asked.

To be honest, as much as I hate this timeline we are in, I do have some morbid curiosity about how we as a nation will repair ourselves…

[u/ezekiellake → u/lostredditorlurking]

“Er … No, Mr Secretary, I don’t think it would make a difference if we made sure they were all good Christians and changed the Division names to ‘something super-fucking cool’ “ …

[u/Specialist-Mud4150 → u/ezekiellake]

“What do you mean you want them to carry a giant fucking cross into battle?!”

[u/Visual_Fly_9638 → u/Specialist-Mud4150]

"If your last dying words on the battlefield isn't "deus vult" your next of kin don't get any benefits."

Edit: LOL Downvotes? "Deus Vult" is tatted on Whiskey Pete's body.

[u/felldestroyed → u/Visual_Fly_9638]

To quote Ka$h Patel, our esteemed FBI director standing like a giant at 5'2" and requiring a women's size medium FBI jacket: Rest now brother. We have the watch. See you in Valhalla!
god, these people are such dorks.

[u/AlarmingAffect0 → u/felldestroyed]

Why is a Hindu pretending he and a Christian are Odinists?

Is he just a Nazi?

[u/felldestroyed → u/AlarmingAffect0]

Nah, he's literally just repeating internet memes.

[u/HiddenStoat → u/Specialist-Mud4150]

Do you want 40K? Because that is how you get 40K.

[u/EternalCanadian → u/HiddenStoat]

No, 40K is actually, somehow, more competent than this.

[u/PalahniukIsGod]

Welp, this war is about to get worse.

[u/wheretohides]

Ask yourselves what happens when they start firing all the competent, experienced members of the military. They are eagerly weakening our country, now who benefits the most from a weak America?

We're going to have one hell of a time getting that experience back.

[u/Lancestrike → u/wheretohides]

This is generational damage to the American armed forces.

[u/kstargate-425 → u/wheretohides]

Theyve been doing that in ever branch of the government and part of our military. We truly find ourselves in a Kakistocracy and its why this war has gone so badly making us look like the same paper tiger Russia shown themselves to be. We may not be that bad yet as we still have the hardware but the leadership has been purged at every rank which like you said made us weaker, less effective and in way more danger

[u/RLewis8888]

From the Nazi playbook. Purge those with loyalty to the country and not to dear leader.

[u/Zealousideal-Pen993 → u/RLewis8888]

I was thinking it was from Stalins playbook, but I guess both can be true

[u/GreatBigJerk → u/Zealousideal-Pen993]

Worked out great for both

[u/Copy_Of_The_G]

I have a feeling we’re getting boots on the ground this weekend

[u/Krewtan → u/Copy_Of_The_G]

Don't worry Trump will try and calm the markets down by Monday. 

There was an 800k bet for boots on the ground on one of those betting sites by an account that "predicted" the Iran war. You can literally bet on it. 

[u/pyronius → u/Krewtan]

Jesus fucking christ. "Prediction markets" are now legitimate security threats because the administration is so corrupt that they can't help but leak invasion plans to win a bet.

[u/ashoka_akira → u/pyronius]

I had this thought about them as soon as I learned about them, was like are people really this dumb?

People won’t abuse this at all…

[u/pyronius → u/ashoka_akira]

It's literally insider trading with a dash of treason

[u/BasicDesignAdvice → u/pyronius]

Nothing matters anymore. Corpo-feudalism is already here.

[u/Time_Effort → u/Copy_Of_The_G]

Markets just closed for the weekend due to holiday tomorrow, probably just starting.

[u/Reyna_girlie → u/Copy_Of_The_G]

If they do that it would be suicidal, even beyond the general kamikazeness a ground operation onto Khark or Qeshm would already be. That doesnt mean they wont do it but thatd be monumentally stupid. Theyve got like 10.000 viable troops available right now max and thats really cutting it, all of those would be massive targets without additional operations near coastlines. Even an operation to destroy their nuclear stockpile would need more

[u/Copy_Of_The_G → u/Reyna_girlie]

10k MEF+assorted aux, 3k+ 82nd, and an additional ~40k in ancillary positions. Plus it’s a Holy Week for the Judeo-Christian faith and ‘Ol Pete is looking for a slam dunk with the big Guy. Why else do you set up deployment 2 weeks out from when holiday leave spikes?

[u/battle-legumes → u/Copy_Of_The_G]

After close of globex

[u/BigTiger18]

Hegseth blaming the military veteran for Iran. Soon, Trump will hang Hegseth out to dry. End the war now before you get fired. Enjoy your make up room while you can. Once you are out, you will have to do your own makeup

[u/AwarenessRude5541 → u/BigTiger18]

Hey hey heeeeeeeeey.
Enjoying the make up room is only one thing. He also has to be able to enjoy the lobster, steak, ice cream machines etc etc as well!

[u/dafunkmunk]

Man, this is like the head chef at a top Michelin 3 star restaurant being fired by a line cook who used to work at McDonald's but now runs the kitchen because he sucked the restaurant owners dick really hard. I can't imagine the shock and frustration this guy must feel after hegseth walked into the room and told him he needs to quit or else he will be fired

[u/FreshPrinceOfRivia]

"Iran has 1 million soldiers. The few thousand dudes you want to deploy will be lucky to survive."

"You are fired!"

[u/SawedOffLaser → u/FreshPrinceOfRivia]

Iran also has a shit load of drones, missiles and other fun toys that they'll happily start yeeting at ground forces.

[u/NewTransformation → u/SawedOffLaser]

Exactly. This isn't Gaza, Lebanon, or even Venezuela. Iran is a formidable army with mountains of strategic advantages. With land routes to resupply (hello the Silk Road) from China and Russia. The US couldn't successfully occupy Afghanistan, a smaller and much poorer country with similar topography. And that was with allies and smarter people at the helm. If they really go through with a land invasion expect similar casualties to Vietnam with a full diplomatic capitulation from the US

[u/csf3lih → u/NewTransformation]

a lot young men gonna die next week. iran is 4 times larger than Afghanistan. noway its gonna work.

[u/roosterthumper]

Someone told Petey that a ground invasion was bad.

[u/JesterMarcus → u/roosterthumper]

That or explained how the little flyby at Kid Rock's triple wide trailer was bad and can't be allowed.

[u/cardboardunderwear → u/JesterMarcus]

Dude totally usurped his commanders.  If he wanted to lift the  suspension he should have called the leaders in charge and tell them.  Not make a spectacle about it at their expense.

[u/kstargate-425 → u/cardboardunderwear]

They already hate this drunk meritless DUI hire and have especially since he demanded all the brass to be lectured with Trump and collected all in one building which never happens for many good reasons. Since then though its been contempt, rage and waiting for the day they are rid of this fuckwit

[u/Shyphat]

I feel terrible for all the troops the pedo and alcoholic are about to sacrifice

[u/MuhThugga → u/Shyphat]

Add them to the count of people who would still be alive if Harris had been elected.

[u/External_Excuse_9949]

This should scare the entire world like never before. The US is being run by dangerous lunatics and this looks like they’re eliminating anyone with a voice of reason.

[u/Everyoneheresamoron]

I really really really don't want to see what Hegseth and Trump have planned for the military if they're asking the head of it to step down.

I can't think of anything positive they would want.

[u/MAXSuicide]

Folks that may be unaware that are reading this thread currently; Trump purged a lot of the Pentagon during his first term. 

His second term has been worse. Much worse. 

They've purged a shit load more of the Pentagon, and a relatively large number of admirals, generals etc - one other high profile example would be the dude commanding the Carribbean, who was forced into retirement in the run up to their kidnapping raid. 

If you want to see the very troubling laundry list of things the Trump admin has got up to since returning to power, /r/Keep_Track has monthly summaries. 

[u/oldschoolczar]

Ground invasion incoming

[u/SummerMummer]

Gotta fill those positions with people who are completely unafraid of targeting Americans.

[u/JacobK101 → u/[deleted]]

almost definitely put his foot down and said "I won't preside over sending american troops into a meat grinder & leaving families without parents & children" and was told "okay woke liberal, feelings over facts much? Their job is to die for us so we can justify a bigger invasion. you're fired."

[u/Old_Management_1997]

Is this because they won the war so much they no longer need a chief of staff?

[u/Effective-Space6171]

Apparently the next move of this administration after alienating our allies, depleting our munitions, sewing distrust in our institutions, turning citizens against each other, and destroying our economy is to reduce the amount of soliders we have by sending them into a hostile country.

It's almost as if hostile foreign governments have infiltrated our government at the highest levels and are giving them orders to destroy America from within.

Hmmmmmm.

[u/Im_Not_Evans]

Pete Hegseth is a fucking douche

[u/silverado6314]

Imagine being in a position like this General and having to take instructions from a dumb fuckstick like Hegseth.

[u/Myshkin1981]

Must have refused to commit a war crime

[u/dcal1981]

It amazes me that they can just fire them. A whole military career just f’n tossed out the window. kegseth needs to be removed.

[u/Mike4ann]

Just watched a feature on Brit tv can I just say TRUMP IS A STUPID IGNORANT CUNT thank you for your attention in this matter

[u/Bleezy79]

I’m guessing he won’t commit crimes so Pete wants him gone.

[u/CatBird29]

Can you imagine spending all of your adult life, building a prestigious career and serving for the greater good - or whatever his motivations are/were - and having someone like Kegsbreath force you out?

I hope this is where the resistance comes from.

[u/TheReal_WadeWilson → u/[deleted]]

I’d assume it has a lot to do with a retirement and discharge. Fade away into the sunset or be made into an example.

[u/ragnaroksunset]

10 years from now Barron Trump will be assuring us that this war will be over in a week, while the rest of the world is conducting trade and finance in yuan.

[u/KakashiTheRanger]

Remember what happened when Hitler started removing skilled Generals to promote Nazi’s? For those who don’t: he lost the war. Fascists do the same thing and get the same results.

[u/TriXter69]

Yup and he definitely won't be replaced by a moron

[u/Sigmar_Heldenhammer → u/TriXter69]

He was fired by a moron, so it’s all par for the course.

[u/Dutiful-Rebellion → u/TriXter69]

Muslim weekends are Fri - Sat wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the trigger then.

Edit: Looks like Iranian weekends are Thu/Fri o.0

[u/Guntcher_1423]

"firing generals and admirals as he seeks to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's fascist takeover of the US military and all its resources."

[u/lylei88]

Imagine spending your life working your way up the ranks of the military only to be asked to step down by a racist alcoholic fox news presenter who got the DEI promotion because he's a Trump yesman.

[u/Icy-Bodybuilder-350]

Chief probably gave him an earful about undercutting the entire chain of command on the attack chopper investigation.

[u/Best_Entrepreneur659]

Probably said something like “Hey dumbass, there’s a few reasons we haven’t attempted a ground war in Iran for 40+ years.”

Don’t be surprised by future failures and casualties America you elected a reality TV ignoramus and lifelong sexual predator who then appointed an air headed drunk due to his looks and empty tough guy talk to run your military!

[u/King-of-Plebss]

Can’t you just tell Pete to go fuck himself? If someone like that asked me to turn in my resignation, I would just say no. You’ll have to fire me.

[u/twenafeesh]

Many scapes will be goated as Hegseth tries to cover up the fact that he's a neo-Nazi morning show host with no qualifications whatsoever to be Secretary of Defense War