Trump's Pick for Joint Chiefs Chairman Pledges Bipartisan Stance, Addresses Signal Controversy

President Trump’s pick for the next chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine, informed senators on Tuesday that he recognizes his status as an unfamiliar and atypical candidate. However, he emphasized that the nation faces extraordinary and unparalleled challenges, stating his readiness to defend against them.

During his confirmation hearing to become the leading U.S. military official, he stated that he would provide frank advice to Trump and pledged to remain nonpartisan. Although Caine refrained from directly condemning senior officials for utilizing a Signal conversation to plan an assault on Yemen’s Houthi insurgents, he informed senators under examination that he consistently uses appropriate communication methods.

Caine is an esteemed F-16 fighter pilot with experience leading numerous special operations units and participating in several highly confidential projects at the Pentagon. Although Caine doesn’t fulfill all the criteria outlined in a 1986 legislation—like having been a combatant commander or service chief—the lawmakers acknowledged his extensive career history. The president has the authority to waive these stipulations.

"I understand that for numerous Americans, I remain an unrecognized leader," Caine stated at the beginning of his speech. He discussed his tenure under leaders from different political parties and highlighted his wide-ranging experience, including time served in the National Guard, roles in the corporate world, and work with the CIA.

Democrats pointed out that Caine received his nomination following Trump’s dismissal of General CQ Brown Jr., part of a broader move to remove generals whom both the President and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saw as proponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the military ranks.

I believe you comprehend the complex circumstances surrounding your nomination as chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” stated Senator Jack Reed, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Your impressive history of service gives me hope in this matter.

The chair of the committee, Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker, stated that he believes Caine views his role as nonpartisan.

"I might debate politics up here on this platform, but I expect General Caine to remain neutral regardless of the topic," he stated.

Caine challenges the account of the MAGA hat incident.

During his address, Caine aimed to reassure legislators about his strategy for preparing the country for potential future conflicts. He mentioned that his military background, encompassing witnessing comrades perish, has influenced his perspective on employing military power and emphasized "the significance of thoughtfully evaluating when to deploy such force."

For the first time, Caine publicly refuted wearing a MAGA hat. Trump has recounted an account of their meeting where he claimed Caine was sporting such a cap several years back.

During the hearing, when questioned about it, Caine stated, "Over the past 34 years, I've honored both my oath of office and my dedication to my commission. Furthermore, I have never worn any political apparel."

He stated that Trump must have been "referring to someone else."

Caine has been characterized by previous military associates as an intensely dedicated professional soldier who has devoted recent weeks to engaging with legislators from both the Democratic and Republican parties. This was stated by a former U.S. official involved in aiding Caine’s preparation for the confirmation hearings, speaking anonymously to share insights into his nomination.

Queries about assault strategies sent via Signal

Caine was additionally questioned regarding senior national security officers utilizing a Signal chat for discussing airstrikes aimed at Yemen’s Houthi rebels. This conversation even involved Hegsety sharing operational specifics prior to the mission commencing. The discussion within this chat, which featured a journalist among its members, did not encompass Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Christopher Brady.

“As far as I comprehend that conversation, it was a politically biased discussion, and therefore the joint forces shouldn’t have been involved,” Caine explained to the legislators.

Caine refused to comment on whether high-ranking U.S. officials participating in the chat—including the vice president, defense secretary, secretary of state, and National Security Advisor—should have deliberated over combat strategies using an unclassified, commercially available platform.

"What I'll state is that we ought to consistently maintain an air of unpredictability," Caine stated.

Trump's top military advisor

Although Caine would hold the position of the highest-ranking uniformed official in the military, his main responsibility would be acting as the president’s foremost military consultant. During his testimony before the Senate, Caine emphasized that the military should always maintain an impartial stance.

I believe it begins with setting a positive example at the highest levels and ensuring that we remain unbiased and neutral while also telling those in authority what they need to hear.

In his initial term, Trump’s relations with Chairman General Mark Milley deteriorated because Milley resisted and acted to stop what he perceived as efforts to turn the position political. Milley often reminded personnel within the armed forces that their loyalty was pledged to the Constitution rather than to any individual president.

Shortly after Trump took office in January, Milley’s image as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs was taken down from the walls at the Pentagon. Following this, both Trump and Hegseth revoked Milley's security clearance and protection detail.

Since his retirement in December, Caine needs to be reinstated for active service through a new swearing-in ceremony. This will occur following his confirmation, at which point he'll also receive a promotion to four-star general, according to a former U.S. official.

Caine has worked within the Pentagon, heading its Special Access Programs Central Office, responsible for determining which classified details about weapon systems are disclosed to other nations.

In 2008, he took on the role of commander for the joint special operations task force in Iraq and later became the assistant commanding general of the joint special operations command based at Fort Bragg. Between 2018 and 2019, his responsibilities included serving as the deputy commanding general for the special operations joint task force involved in Operation Inherent Resolve, working towards combating the Islamic State group across Iraq and Syria.

He served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA from 2021 up until his retirement in December.

In 2009, Caine joined the National Guard and started his career in the private sector. This included serving as an adviser at an investment firm operated by Jared Kushner’s brother, who is married to President Trump’s daughter.

He boasts over 2,800 flight hours in the F-16 and has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Bronze Star Medal with a bronze oak leaf cluster, along with several other honors.

Copp is an Associated Press writer. Contributing to this report from Washington were AP writers Lolita C. Baldor and Matt Brown.

This tale initially surfaced in Los Angeles Times .