Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly compelled four-star Army General Christopher Donahue, a highly decorated officer, into retirement after becoming fixated on a viral photograph from the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The decision, detailed in a New York Times investigation based on interviews with over 40 individuals, stems from Hegseth's repeated mischaracterization of the image as a "selfie," despite extensive evidence to the contrary. General Donahue, 57, was the last American service member to board the final military aircraft departing Kabul, a poignant moment captured by an Army photographer using specialized night-vision equipment on August 30, 2021.
"I don’t care." Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
The photograph quickly became a defining image of the chaotic U.S. departure, marking the end of a nearly two-decade military presence in Afghanistan. According to the investigation, senior Pentagon officials observed Hegseth's fixation on the image shortly after he took office, frequently referring to it as a "selfie." However, the photograph was not self-taken; it was captured by an Army photographer documenting Donahue's adherence to military tradition as the final soldier from his unit to board the aircraft. Furthermore, Donahue reportedly had no involvement in distributing the image, which rapidly circulated across news organizations globally.
The final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal were marked by tragedy, including the deadly bombing at Kabul’s Abbey Gate on August 26, 2021. An ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked the gate, killing 13 U.S. service members—11 Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one Army soldier—along with scores of Afghans. The New York Times reported that General Donahue's soldiers were not responsible for controlling Abbey Gate at the time of the attack. Marines were still in charge of the entrance, with Donahue's paratroopers scheduled to assume control the following day. Donahue had also reportedly warned prior to the bombing that the overcrowded conditions at the gate made it highly vulnerable to an attack and had recommended its earlier closure. Pentagon leaders ultimately agreed to keep the entrance operational after British forces requested additional time for evacuations.
Despite these circumstances, the Afghanistan withdrawal became a significant factor in Donahue’s career trajectory after President Donald Trump returned to office. President Trump had repeatedly criticized the Biden administration over the withdrawal during his 2024 campaign and had questioned why senior military officers had not been punished for the Abbey Gate deaths. General Donahue was initially considered the leading candidate to succeed retiring General Christopher Cavoli as commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), a prestigious four-star position.
According to the Times report, Defense Secretary Hegseth initially supported Donahue for the EUCOM role. However, Hegseth later informed aides that President Trump desired accountability for the "Abbey Gate disaster." Hegseth’s then-chief of staff, Joe Kasper, reportedly attempted to defend Donahue by compiling information clarifying that the viral Afghanistan photograph was not a selfie, that Donahue had not arranged its publication, and that his forces were not controlling Abbey Gate during the bombing. Hegseth reportedly reviewed the information and dismissed it, stating, "I don’t care."
This episode reportedly escalated into a broader struggle over Donahue’s future within the Pentagon. General Donahue's career spanned roughly three decades, including more than 20 combat deployments. He rose through the Army’s elite special operations community, serving in Delta Force. Supporters within the military viewed him as an exceptionally experienced battlefield commander. He later became commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, where the Army credited him with developing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a strategy designed to bolster NATO defenses and integrate lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Hegseth eventually moved to downgrade the U.S. European Command position from a four-star assignment to a three-star post. With no other four-star assignments available, this decision effectively forced Donahue into retirement, as reported by the Daily Mail. Army officials confirmed earlier this summer that Donahue was departing U.S. Army Europe and Africa after approximately 18 months in command. His departure is part of a wider reshuffling of senior military leadership under Hegseth, including the earlier removal of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and other high-ranking Army leaders.
Influential supporters continued their efforts to preserve Donahue’s career. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT), a former Navy SEAL, advocated on Donahue’s behalf, while Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) sought alternative four-star positions for him. The Times reported that these efforts failed to alter Hegseth’s stance. Senator Ernst eventually asked Donahue if he would consider taking a four-star Army command in Texas. "Do you honestly think Secretary Hegseth would work with me if I was there?" Donahue reportedly asked her. "Honestly, no," Ernst responded, according to the Times.
General Donahue officially retired on August 27, concluding a distinguished military career that included leadership positions in Afghanistan, Europe, and some of the Army’s most elite special operations units. The Pentagon declined to provide detailed answers to questions from the Times regarding Donahue’s case, stating that senior military leaders serve at the pleasure of the President and the Defense Secretary. His departure contributes to a significant turnover among senior officers under Defense Secretary Hegseth.
