MSNBC’s Symone Sanders-Townsend Blasts Trump’s Pentagon Purge: ‘Was CQ Brown Fired Because He Was Black?’

MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend slammed President Donald Trump over his Friday decision to fire former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown.

On Friday, the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly cleaned house at the Joint Chiefs of Staff – with Brown out first. Also fired were Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife.

Top JAG officials are also reportedly under the gun.  Hegseth previously called for such a purge to remove military leaders he said had pushed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the ranks.

During a panel discussion on MSNBC’s The Weekend, Sanders-Townsend suggested Trump removed Brown simply because he was Black.

“What is going on?” she asked. “And I and I just, I mean, I feel like that’s what people across – what is going on here? Just really what is going on between CQ Brown and I’m just going to say it — we need to ask the question: was CQ Brown fired because he was Black?’ She added:

Because it’s not that he’s unqualified, right? It’s not that he’s – he was confirmed by the Senate. And then when it comes to Ukraine, I just like, is Ronald Reagan rolling over in his grave right now? Where are the real Republicans in America? We’re the people that care about democracy. I am just – I’m very confused and concerned.

Trump announced Brown’s firing in a Friday night Truth Social post:

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.

Today, I am honored to announce that I am nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a “warfighter” with significant interagency and special operations experience.

Watch the clip above via MSNBC.