Rep. Rich McCormick to Newsmax: 'I Will Look Into' Gen. George's Firing

During an appearance on Newsmax on Thursday, Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., learned that War Secretary Pete Hegseth had asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down — calling the development "surprising" while expressing confidence the military would move forward.

Speaking on "Ed Henry: The Big Take," McCormick said he was not previously aware of the decision and pledged to look into the reasoning behind it.

"That would be very surprising to me," McCormick said when informed of the move, noting that George is "a brilliant mind" and one of the top leaders in the U.S. military.

"I've never heard him say anything contrary to what the president is trying to achieve," McCormick added, praising George's efforts to prepare the Army for future conflicts.

According to reports, Hegseth asked George to take immediate retirement as part of a broader push to install leadership aligned with the administration's vision for the military.

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed George's departure to CBS News and thanked him for decades of service, while signaling a shift toward new leadership.

The move comes amid a sweeping effort by Hegseth to reshape the military's top ranks and refocus priorities, including readiness, recruitment, and restoring what officials describe as a merit-based culture.

McCormick, a Marine and Navy veteran, emphasized the importance of unity within the Pentagon, especially at a time of heightened global tensions.

Still, he stressed confidence in America's ability to navigate leadership changes.

"We'll have to get through it. We're the United States of America," he said.

The congressman also used the appearance to defend President Donald Trump's foreign policy approach, particularly his tough stance on Iran.

McCormick argued that decisive action and "overwhelming force" are key to ending conflicts quickly and preventing prolonged instability.

"When you hold back, when you fight with half measures, bad things happen," he said. "Overwhelming force, that is something that ends wars very quickly. The longer you draw a war, the less support you'll have for it. That's been universal. This guy means what he says."

McCormick warned that allowing Iran to maintain nuclear ambitions poses a serious threat, calling it "the thing that keeps me awake at night."

The lawmaker contrasted Trump's leadership with what he described as failures under the Biden administration, citing the Afghanistan withdrawal as a defining example of poor decision-making.

"That's one of the worst days of my life," he said, pointing to the loss of lives and resources after two decades of U.S. involvement.

He credited Trump with restoring confidence in the military, noting improvements in recruitment and morale.

"People are proud to be back in the military," he said, calling the turnaround "night and day."

As the Pentagon undergoes leadership changes, McCormick suggested the focus must remain on strength, unity, and readiness — principles he said are critical to maintaining America's position on the world stage.

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