The Senate voted to confirm the general who advised President Donald Trump on effectively combating ISIS by relaxing rules of engagement during his first term, as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The vote took place in the early hours of Friday morning, following the rejection of a GOP attempt by Democrats to swiftly confirm Caine on Thursday. The final tally was 60 to 25, with 15 Democrats backing the Trump nominee.
Caine, a former Air Force F-16 pilot, is the first National Guard general to hold the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Trump selected him from retirement to serve as his top military advisor after dismissing Gen. C.Q. Brown in February. Unlike past chairmen, Caine is not a four-star general and returned from retirement to take on this role. Trump had to grant him a waiver as he had not previously served as a combatant commander or service chief.
During a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Caine acknowledged the uniqueness of his nomination, stating, “In our family, we serve. When asked, we always say yes. Senators, I acknowledge that I’m an unconventional nominee. These are unconventional times.” Prior to this appointment, Caine worked for the CIA and founded a regional airline in Texas, among other roles.
Caine was part of a group of military leaders who met with Trump at the Al Asad airbase in Iraq in December 2018. During the meeting, Caine proposed a strategy to swiftly defeat ISIS with increased resources and relaxed engagement restrictions. Despite Trump’s claim that Caine wore a red MAGA hat during their first encounter, Caine denied this statement.
In his new role, Caine pledged to advise the president on defense matters without political influence, emphasizing the importance of being nonpartisan and truthful in his role. Trump’s previous chairman, Gen. Mark Milley, has faced scrutiny and had his security clearance revoked by the president.
Joint Chiefs chairman confirms ISIS terrorists in initial phase
