WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army's commander of its forces in Europe and Africa — who was famously the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021 — is unexpectedly stepping down from his post after just 18 months in the job, the Army confirmed late Tuesday.
Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish his command on July 2, according to an Army statement provided to The Associated Press. He is the latest in a line of nearly two dozen top military leaders to either retire or depart their jobs early under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has undertaken an effort to thin the ranks of the military’s top brass with the mantra “less generals, more GIs.”
Donahue's deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will perform his duties in the meantime, the statement added.
A West Point graduate and a career special operations commander, Donahue commanded Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan before leading the 82nd Airborne division from July 2020 to March 2022.
It was during that period that he oversaw the security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country in 2021. On Aug. 30, 2021, Donahue became the last U.S. soldier to depart the country after nearly 20 years of war sparked by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The moment was documented in an iconic photo taken through night vision goggles that showed the general boarding the last C-17 cargo plane to depart the country.
Hegseth and President Donald Trump had made the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan — an operation that was set in motion by a treaty negotiated with the Taliban by the Trump administration in its first term — a regular political punching bag and the subject of a new Pentagon review.
Last May, Hegseth ordered the new examination of the withdrawal despite there having already been multiple reviews of the operation by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress, which have involved hundreds of interviews and studies of videos, photographs and other footage and data. It’s unclear what specific new information the new review is seeking.
Donahue’s leadership during the evacuation had nonetheless drawn bipartisan praise. Within the Army, he was widely seen as a top officer who could have led the service or been chosen to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
An Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to talk about sensitive discussions told The Associated Press that Donahue’s departure comes as the Army is discussing downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa from four-star to a three-star command.
This move would come amid ongoing criticism from Hegseth about European allies.
Last week, Hegseth told NATO allies he would be conducting a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe that is “designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe.”
“It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors,” he added.
The Pentagon did not immediately comment on the news of Donahue's departure, which was first reported by The Atlantic.
The Pentagon is pictured in Washington, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
FILE - U.S. Army General Christopher Donahue, left, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, and Polish General Wojciech Marchwica speak to journalists after unloading vehicles from a transport plane arriving from Fort Bragg at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland, on Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo, File)
HOUSTON (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo rebounded from a lackluster start to his sixth World Cup and led Portugal to a dominant victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday, renewing hope that the team is a contender for the title.
Ronaldo scored two goals to help Portugal roll to a 5-0 win and move on from its disappointing performance in the opening 1-1 draw with Congo.
“We improved,” Ronaldo said in Portuguese. “It’s life, sometimes you will have challenges and the main goal is always to improve and that’s what we did.”
The 41-year-old Ronaldo became the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments, adding another impressive accomplishment to his storied career. He was named man of the match.
Portugal has four points in Group K. Colombia moved back atop the group with six points when it beat Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico, late Tuesday night.
Some critics questioned if Ronaldo should remain in the starting lineup after a forgettable performance against Congo. But coach Roberto Martínez stuck with the superstar and his decision paid off almost immediately with Ronaldo putting the team up 1-0 in the sixth minute.
Martínez said the veterans on his team used their experience to calm the group and keep the negativity from impacting them on Tuesday.
“The discipline, the way we executed the game was fantastic,” Martínez said. “And I think that shows you that the maturity in that dressing room allowed us to use the noise in a positive way. But easily in another dressing room it could have been fatal.”
Ronaldo said it was a difficult week, one that was especially tough on him and his coach because most of the criticism went toward them.
“But it’s always like that, it doesn’t matter, because it’s been 23 years on the job and when things go well, ‘Cristiano is good,’ when things go bad, ‘Cristiano is a retired player, is old,'” he said. “It will always be like that. But we responded well today, me and my teammates, which is what we wanted.”
Ronaldo put João Cancelo's cross into the net with his right foot to make his latest mark on history. He then made his signature SIUUU celebration before running toward the bench and celebrating with his teammates.
Ronaldo got another in the 39th minute when he got a pass from Bruno Fernandes and scored with his right foot just inside the near post to make it 3-0. Nuno Mendes had made it 2-0 off a free kick in the 17th minute.
Portugal took a 4-0 lead on an own-goal in the 60th minute. Rafael Leão, who entered the game in the 83rd, extended the advantage to 5-0 in the 87th minute. He crouched down, smiled and posed for the camera after his score.
Uzbekistan midfielder Azizjon Ganiev looked to have scored in the 30th minute, but it was overturned after a video review showed Abbosbek Fayzullaev fouled João Cancelo just before the play.
Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, whose team is playing at the World Cup for the first time, took responsibility for the loss.
“We lost 5-0 today because I made mistakes, not them,” said the coach, who captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title.
While Martínez kept Ronaldo as a starter, he did make two changes to the lineup. He benched midfielder Bernardo Silva for João Félix and started defender Rúben Dias, who sat out the opener with an injury, over Tomas Araújo.
Ronaldo had a great chance to score in the fourth minute when he took a cross from Mendes and just missed with his right foot as he slid to the grass. He shook his head and made a hand gesture indicating it was close. But it wasn’t long before he scored put Portugal on top.
He had a chance for a hat trick at the end of second-half injury time, but his shot was just off.
Uzbekistan plays on Saturday night in Atlanta against Congo. Portugal faces Colombia on Saturday night in Miami Gardens, Florida, to determine the group winner.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Uzbekistan's Abduvohid Nematov (12) scores an own goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) CORRECTION - Corrects player who scored an own goal to Abduvohid Nematov (12)
Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov (12) scores an own goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates with Portugal's Pedro Neto (18), Portugal's Bruno Fernandes (8) and Portugal's Joao Cancelo (20) after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts on the ground near Portugal's Bruno Fernandes (8) during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the pitch after the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
