Reuters

Us Army Europe Commander Donahue Step Down July 2 2026 06 25

@KevO4188 @shashj Donahue was literally commander on the ground who stopped it from being a massacre &amp; allowed everyone to get out. Who wrestled control of airport back from chaos. Its beyond me why there is this feeling about one of the USs grea...

samstein

ChristopherJM

SecWar

KatieMiller

TheAtlantic

TheFP

American Conservative

Army Europe and Africa Commander Relinquishes Command After 18 Months

The Associated Press

Top Army general who was last US soldier to leave Afghanistan is suddenly leaving his post

The Washington Examiner

Army commander for Africa and Europe resigns in latest high-profile Pentagon exit

Newsmax

1260742

Newsweek

Europe Dismayed as Respected Top US General Ousted by Hegseth

The New York Times

General Christopher Donahue Hegseth.Html

FOX News

Commanding general of the US Army in European and African theater is unexpectedly stepping down

If Donahue was the local commander in Kabul when the Abbey Gate bombing occurred in 2021, how was he ever promoted???

NBC Los Angeles

Top Army general who was last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan is suddenly leaving his post

In December 2024, then EUCOM Commander and SACEUR Gen. Chris Cavoli described Gen. Chris Donahue this way:
"He is without a doubt, the most experienced war fighter we have in the U.S. Army, more than 20 deployments covering literally every single nam...

Donahue spent the bulk of his career in Delta, ultimately as its commander. The invasion of Iraq, the Surge, Afghanistan, and especially the fight against ISIS, Donahue led or had a hand in many of the most successful and high-profile special operati...

Stars and Stripes

Action hero Army general Donahue headed for early retirement from Germany post

NBC Boston

Military Times

Gen. Christopher Donahue to unexpectedly relinquish command of Army Europe and Africa

Daily Press

Senior US General in Europe set to retire amid Hegseths review of US support for NATO allies

Defense News

Ukraine News

General Donahue prepares to retire as Pentagon reduces Europe command rank

Guardian

Top army general who was last US soldier to leave Afghanistan abruptly steps down

New York Post

Armys top general in Europe steps down amid simmering Pentagon tensions

CBS News

Gen. Chris Donahue set to retire as Army commander in Europe and Africa, in latest departure by top military official

ABC News

Key Army general relinquishing command

The U.S. Army confirmed on Tuesday that Gen. Christopher Donahue will relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after roughly 18 months in the role — halfway through what is typically a three-year assignment. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will serve as acting commander.

The U.S. Army confirmed on Tuesday that Gen. Christopher Donahue will relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after roughly 18 months in the role — halfway through what is typically a three-year assignment. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will serve as acting commander.

Donahue's departure coincides with reports of plans to downgrade U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command. Because four-star generals can only hold positions of equivalent rank, the alleged downgrade would have left Donahue without a suitable post.

Donahue's departure coincides with reports of plans to downgrade U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command. Because four-star generals can only hold positions of equivalent rank, the alleged downgrade would have left Donahue without a suitable post.

Donahue is a West Point graduate who commanded Delta Force, led the 82nd Airborne Division and headed the XVIII Airborne Corps. He became widely known as the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, captured in an iconic night-vision photograph boarding a C-17.

Donahue is a West Point graduate who commanded Delta Force, led the 82nd Airborne Division and headed the XVIII Airborne Corps. He became widely known as the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, captured in an iconic night-vision photograph boarding a C-17.

As commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Donahue developed the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a warfighting concept using drones, AI-enabled targeting and shared data networks to coordinate a layered NATO defense, drawing on lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war.

As commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Donahue developed the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a warfighting concept using drones, AI-enabled targeting and shared data networks to coordinate a layered NATO defense, drawing on lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war.

Donahue's exit is among nearly <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/hegseth-fires-navy-chief-of-staff-in-pentagon-shakeup">two dozen senior military departures </a>under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/hegseth-forces-out-top-army-officer-and-two-other-officials">who also removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George</a>, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

Donahue's exit is among nearly two dozen senior military departures under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral, commander of the Army's III Armored Corps, is expected to be nominated to replace Donahue. Because Donahue was promoted to four-star rank in December 2024, he may require a presidential waiver to retire at that grade under federal law.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral, commander of the Army's III Armored Corps, is expected to be nominated to replace Donahue. Because Donahue was promoted to four-star rank in December 2024, he may require a presidential waiver to retire at that grade under federal law.

Hegseth's push to streamline military leadership makes sense — bloated four-star commands drain resources that should go toward frontline troops. Downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa to a three-star command reflects a smart shift toward making NATO allies shoulder more of Europe's defense burden. Cutting redundant senior positions brings much-needed reform to the military.

Hegseth's push to streamline military leadership makes sense — bloated four-star commands drain resources that should go toward frontline troops. Downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa to a three-star command reflects a smart shift toward making NATO allies shoulder more of Europe's defense burden. Cutting redundant senior positions brings much-needed reform to the military.

Pete Hegseth

Katie Miller

Republican narrative

Forcing out Gen. Donahue — one of the Army's most decorated combat leaders and its foremost expert on drone warfare — guts the very expertise needed to deter Russia and modernize the force. Hegseth sidelined a general with bipartisan Senate backing who built NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative and helped Ukraine survive a full-scale invasion. Far from reform, this is a purge of the military’s best and brightest.

Forcing out Gen. Donahue — one of the Army's most decorated combat leaders and its foremost expert on drone warfare — guts the very expertise needed to deter Russia and modernize the force. Hegseth sidelined a general with bipartisan Senate backing who built NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative and helped Ukraine survive a full-scale invasion. Far from reform, this is a purge of the military’s best and brightest.

The Atlantic


Sam Stein

Democratic narrative

There is a 35% chance that the United States will attack Cuba before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 35% chance that the United States will attack Cuba before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Top US Army Europe Commander to Exit Early

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Top US Army Europe Commander to Exit Early

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