General Dan Caine Accused of Moral Failure for Serving Under Trump

Salon column claims Caine's proximity to former president makes him complicit, but evidence is lacking

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:39pm

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A solitary military officer in uniform stands alone in a dimly lit government office, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of contemplation and moral uncertainty.A military leader's moral dilemma: Serving under a controversial president while navigating the constraints of duty and conscience.NYC Today

A recent Salon column by Chauncey DeVega argues that General Dan 'Razin' Caine, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is morally compromised simply because he served under former President Donald Trump. The piece leans heavily on guilt by association, claiming Caine's failure to publicly rebuke Trump makes him complicit in the former president's actions, despite a lack of evidence of any illegal or unethical conduct by Caine himself.

Why it matters

This story highlights a common tactic used by some political commentators, where anyone associated with the Trump administration is automatically deemed morally suspect, regardless of their actual conduct or role. Such arguments often rely on proximity and speculation rather than concrete proof of wrongdoing, raising concerns about the standards of evidence and fairness in political discourse.

The details

The Salon column cites a New York Times report claiming Caine gave 'tacit consent' to Trump's 'threats to engage in potential crimes against humanity' regarding Iran, but provides no direct evidence to support this assertion. The piece argues that because Caine did not publicly challenge the president, he is morally culpable, despite acknowledging the constraints of the chairman's role. This type of guilt-by-association logic has become a common template used by left-leaning opinion writers when discussing anyone with ties to the Trump administration.

  • The Salon column was published on April 11, 2026.

The players

General Dan 'Razin' Caine

The current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who previously served under former President Donald Trump.

Chauncey DeVega

The Salon columnist who wrote the piece accusing Caine of moral failure for serving under Trump.

Donald Trump

The former president whose association with Caine is the basis for the Salon column's accusations.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of opposing Trump's threats to engage in potential crimes against humanity, Caine gave tacit consent for them, according to a report in the New York Times.”

— Chauncey DeVega, Salon Columnist

The takeaway

This story highlights the concerning trend of using guilt by association as a political weapon, where proximity to a controversial figure is treated as evidence of moral failure, even in the absence of any proof of wrongdoing. Such arguments undermine the principles of fairness and due process, and risk further polarizing the political landscape.