Senators are almost certain to question Caine on the unusual circumstances of his nomination, whether he is committed to providing apolitical military advice, and the fact that he does not meet the statutory qualifications to be chairman.

The president claimed in a 2024 speech that the general he has now nominated to serve as his chief military advisor once told him, ‘I love you, sir.

Dan Caine, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, committed Tuesday to serving as a nonpartisan leader who would give unvarnished military advice and always “strive to do the right thing” if confirmed as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine said Iran nuclearization ‘could be an imminent and existential threat to the United States itself in just a few short years’

The nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Senate panel the U.S. lagged in deploying new technology in part due to dated acquisition rules but stopped short of advocating for a wholesale rewrite of how the Pentagon buys material.

"In our family, we serve. When asked, we always say yes. Senators, I acknowledge that I'm an unconventional nominee. These are unconventional times," he said during his opening statement.

President Trump’s pick to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told senators during his confirmation hearing that he would give the president candid guidance and stay out of politics. But he also said he was willing to push back if asked to do something unconstitutional and suggested concern about recent messages sent by senior national security leaders over Signal.

Democrats seemed to view Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as perhaps the best possible option, under the circumstances. Republicans embraced him.