Lt. Gen. Dan Caine has been confirmed by the Senate to become the nation’s top general, following President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to replace the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was a Black general.
In a vote conducted in the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate approved Caine’s appointment with a tally of 60-25.
This approval will grant Caine a fourth star and mark him as the first chairman who has not previously held the rank of a four-star general or admiral, necessitating a presidential waiver to bypass the statutory qualifications for the role.
Throughout his confirmation process, Caine was questioned regarding his qualifications and his ability to provide apolitical military advice to a president who prizes loyalty.
During a confirmation hearing held last week, Caine assured senators of his commitment to remain politically neutral and deliver honest military counsel to Trump.
“For 34 years, I’ve upheld my oath of office and my commitment to my commission, and I have never worn any political merchandise,” Caine stated when confronted about past claims from Trump regarding his wearing of a “Make America Great Again” hat.
Despite these assurances, all 25 votes opposing Caine’s confirmation came from Democrats, who expressed their concerns over his qualifications and the circumstances surrounding his nomination.
Democrats also protested the firing of Caine’s predecessor, Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, by refusing to expedite the confirmation vote to Thursday afternoon.
Caine’s nomination by Trump followed the unexpected dismissal of Gen. Brown, whose positive comments about diversity had brought criticism from conservative circles.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, articulated skepticism regarding Trump’s motives for appointing Caine after Brown’s firing, describing it as purely political.
“Gen. Caine has served our nation with distinction in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including over multiple combat deployments.
Now, as our nation’s top military adviser, I hope he will continue to fight for the needs of our service members, speak truth to power, and resist Donald Trump when he’s wrong,” Schumer stated following the vote.
In response to the Democratic delays regarding the vote, Republicans scheduled Caine’s confirmation for 1 a.m. Friday, utilizing the earliest possible time under Senate rules.
They emphasized the urgency in confirming Caine prior to the Senate’s two-week recess for the Passover and Easter holidays, arguing that there was no reason to delay the approval of a nominee who had received bipartisan support from the Senate Armed Services Committee, which approved him by a vote of 23-4.
“The Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup, and our adversaries continue to band together against the United States,” stated Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement prior to the vote.
He added that it was essential for President Trump to have the highest-ranking military officer in place without further delays.
Fifteen senators, including nine Republicans, missed the overnight votes on Caine, indicating some level of absenteeism during this pivotal vote.
In addition to confirming Caine as the chairman, the Senate also voted to return Caine to active duty, as he had retired from service the previous year.
That vote passed with a count of 59-26, formalizing his return.
Caine, known by the call sign “Razin,” was commissioned through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the Virginia Military Institute and began his military career as an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot.
He has held numerous assignments throughout his three-decade career in the National Guard, with his last role being the associate director for military affairs at the CIA before retiring.
Caine first caught the attention of Trump around 2018, during his time as deputy commander of a special operations task force aimed at combating the Islamic State terrorist group.
According to Trump, Caine presented a plan that expedited the defeat of the terror group, while other military officers provided more cautious advice.
Since retiring, Caine has been active as a partner at several venture capital firms, including Thrive Capital, which is managed by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
Interestingly, Caine was not questioned about these business ties during his confirmation hearing.
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