Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey criticized President Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for firing U.S. Army General Chris “CD” Donahue, the Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and NATO’s Allied Land Command.
[NOTE: The Wall Street Journal reported that Donahue’s abrupt retirement announcement this week was made at the request of Hegseth, and Open Source Intelligence Monitor reported: “General Donahue’s removal is said to be part of an ongoing push by Hegseth to put his imprint on the military’s leadership, while squeezing out officers with track records of battlefield valor and command experience in favor of less accomplished political loyalists, officers that fully support both himself and President Trump.”]
Gen. McCaffrey wrote on social media: “Sec Hegseth fires four star US Army General CD Donahue commanding US Army Europe. Donahue clearly the most extraordinary combat leader in a generation. Brilliant. Fearless. Bold. Integrity. Incredible leader.”
Sec Hegseth fires four star US Army General CD Donahue commanding US Army Europe. Donahue clearly the most extraordinary combat leader in a generation. Brilliant. Fearless. Bold. Integrity. Incredible leader.
— Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) June 24, 2026
On D-Day this year, Republican strategist and pollster Frank Luntz wrote of Donahue: “Of the dozen generals I met in Normandy over the past few days, none inspired more respect, loyalty, and admiration from their soldiers than four-star General Chris ‘CD’ Donahue. Wherever he walked, soldiers gravitated toward him to seek his wisdom, leadership, and example. I have rarely seen a senior leader held in such high regard by the people he serves alongside. His reputation is extraordinary.”
Of the dozen generals I met in Normandy over the past few days, none inspired more respect, loyalty, and admiration from their soldiers than four-star General Chris “CD” Donahue.
Wherever he walked, soldiers gravitated toward him to seek his wisdom, leadership, and example.
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) June 7, 2026
PBS NewsHour’s Nick Schifrin said Rear Adm. (Ret.) James McPherson, Army Under Secretary during Trump’s first administration, told him: “There’s no more warrior than there was General Donahue.”
He added, “There’s also an aspect here that is very concerning, and that’s civil-military relations. That’s the relationship that the civilian community has with their military. And the foundation of that relationship is, the military is apolitical. They don’t get involved in politics at all. Well, now we see this administration involving senior officers in politics. And that erodes the trust that the civilian community has in their military. It impacts that civilian-military relationship.”