One conversation between Donald Trump and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly may have convinced the president-elect not to fire the general despite previously vowing to remove military leaders who seem to have been too focused on diversity initiatives.
Trump and Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., met during the second quarter of Saturday's Army-Navy football game in Landover, Maryland. The two men spoke one-on-one for about 20 minutes in the owner's box and the conversation went well, sources told NBC News.
The outlet said the president-elect is "changing his tone" on the general. It now appears Trump will not fire Brown immediately after taking office.
Brown has served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since October 2023, when he replaced Gen. Mark Milley. His four-year term is due to expire in 2027.
Earlier this month, it was reported military leaders are rattled by a list of "woke" senior officers that a conservative group urged Trump's Defense Department nominee, Pete Hegseth, to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
Last month, Reuters reported Brown would be among the many officers to leave.
During their meeting at the football game, Brown "congratulated Trump on his election and made it clear he was ready to work with the president," an NBC source said before adding, "[Trump] liked that."
The outlet noted that Trump told someone in his traveling party the conversation went well and Brown was "doing a good job."
Several GOP lawmakers and retired generals have suggested that retaining Brown would bring stability amid Hegseth's possible confirmation. Retired Air Force Gen. Terrence "T.J." O'Shaughnessy, who works closely with Elon Musk at SpaceX, is among those advocating for Trump not to fire Brown.
The Air Force general this week met with Trump's transition team, including Michael Duffey, a former Pentagon official, NBC News reported.
"The chairman is actively supporting the transition team and the process," a defense official told the outlet. "He is focused on ensuring that the president-elect and folks on his national security team are well-informed about both existing and potential threats."