Trump Says He Wants to Get Rid of “Woke” Generals. He Can.

In a June 2024 interview with Fox News, President-elect Donald Trump made headlines by vowing to remove military generals he deems “too woke.” “I would fire them. You can’t have a woke military,” Trump stated, signaling a significant shift in military leadership priorities as he prepares for his second term. This promise, echoed by his choice for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has sparked debates about the implications for national security, military culture, and the balance between ideology and merit in the armed forces. As commander-in-chief, Trump possesses the constitutional authority to dismiss generals at will, but the execution and consequences of such a purge raise complex questions.

The term “woke,” originally rooted in African American English to describe awareness of social injustices, has evolved into a catch-all pejorative for progressive policies, particularly those emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Trump and his allies argue that such initiatives, implemented in the military under previous administrations, undermine readiness and meritocracy. They point to recruitment challenges and the controversial Afghanistan withdrawal as evidence of a military distracted by social agendas. A conservative think tank, the American Accountability Foundation, has even compiled a list of 20 senior officers accused of promoting DEI, urging Hegseth to dismiss them if confirmed as Defense Secretary.

Trump’s authority to fire generals stems from the Constitution, which grants the president broad powers as commander-in-chief. Unlike civilian employees, military officers serve at the president’s pleasure, and dismissals can be enacted over a “loss of confidence” without formal justification. Reports suggest Trump’s team is considering a “warrior board” of retired military officials to evaluate current leaders, targeting those perceived as prioritizing DEI over combat readiness. This board, if established, could institutional