Special Poll
Retired Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, President Trump’s nominee to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff, firmly denied during his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday that he ever wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat directly contradicting a story Trump has repeated for years.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Caine said, “For 34 years, I’ve upheld my oath of office and the responsibilities of my commission.” He went on to state clearly, “I’ve never worn any political merchandise or said anything to that effect.”
Referring specifically to the 2018 meeting in Iraq where Trump claims the two spoke about strategies to defeat ISIS, Caine said he had reviewed recordings from that time and believes the president “was actually talking about somebody else.” His comments strongly imply that Trump’s version of the story is inaccurate, or at the very least, misremembered.
Under Department of Defense policy, active-duty military personnel are strictly prohibited from wearing political gear or endorsing candidates meaning the allegation, if true, would have constituted a violation of military regulations.
President Trump has frequently recounted his meeting with Caine, describing him as a bold, straight-talking officer who laid out a plan to defeat the Islamic State with swift, decisive action. But in recent retellings including during Trump’s speech at the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) he added that Caine was wearing a red MAGA hat during their exchange.
That added detail now appears to be false, based on Caine’s sworn testimony. While Caine didn’t directly accuse Trump of lying, his pointed denial and clarification suggest that the president’s account is either embellished or entirely mistaken.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment following Caine’s remarks.
Caine’s handling of the question may boost his credibility with senators on both sides of the aisle, as he sought to reinforce his nonpartisan military service and distance himself from political theatrics. Still, the moment highlights how stories frequently told by Trump even those intended to uplift key allies can come under scrutiny when confronted with factual testimony.