John Kelly’s Stark Warning About Trump
On Tuesday, John Kelly, the retired Marine general who served as White House Chief of Staff under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019, issued a chilling warning regarding the Republican nominee. He asserted that Trump meets the definition of a fascist, a statement that echoes his long-standing criticisms of the former president. Kelly’s remarks come at a crucial time, as the election enters its final two weeks, and they build on previous admonitions from other former top Trump officials.
Throughout his tenure, Kelly has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump, previously alleging that the former president referred to veterans who lost their lives in combat as “suckers” and “losers.” His latest comments emerged amid Trump’s ongoing campaign for a second term, during which he has pledged to significantly enhance the military’s domestic role and even suggested utilizing force against Americans he perceives as “enemies from within.”
A Complex Relationship with the Military
In an interview with The Atlantic and The New York Times, Kelly recounted a troubling conversation with Trump, who had expressed a desire for “German generals.” When Kelly inquired whether Trump meant the generals of Otto von Bismarck, who was instrumental in Germany’s unification, he was taken aback by Trump’s reply, which indicated he was referring to Hitler’s generals. “Surely you can’t mean Hitler’s generals,” Kelly recalled questioning Trump, to which the former president responded, “yeah, yeah, Hitler’s generals.”
Trump’s campaign quickly dismissed these accounts. Spokesman Steven Cheung claimed that Kelly had “beclowned himself with these debunked stories he has fabricated.” Kelly’s departure from the White House in 2019 followed a tumultuous period characterized by high turnover among senior staff, which some commentators described as a “revolving door” of officials cycling in and out of the West Wing. In response to Kelly’s criticisms, Trump has called him “one of the dumbest people I’ve ever met.”
Concerns from Military Leaders
Kelly is not alone in his concerns about Trump’s authoritarian inclinations. Retired Army General Mark A. Milley, who held the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s presidency, conveyed in Bob Woodward’s recent book, War, that Trump was “a fascist to the core” and posed “the most dangerous threat to this country.” Trump, in turn, has disparaged Milley, labeling him as “a stupid person, very stupid.”
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Throughout Trump’s political ascent, he has garnered substantial support from military veterans. According to the Associated Press’ VoteCast survey, approximately 60% of military veterans supported Trump in the 2020 election, as did over half of those with a veteran in their household.
The Final Countdown
As the election date approaches, polls indicate that the race is still highly competitive, with a handful of votes in key counties likely to determine the outcome. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are traversing the country, making their final appeals to undecided voters while solidifying their respective bases.
Harris’ campaign has devoted significant effort to reaching out to independent voters, enlisting the support of long-standing Republicans like former Representative Liz Cheney. She is also leveraging comments from figures like Kelly to encourage former Trump supporters to reconsider their choices ahead of the November 5 election. “This provides insight into who Donald Trump truly is, as articulated by those who know him best—people who have worked alongside him in the Oval Office and the Situation Room,” Harris stated to reporters outside the Vice Presidential residence in Washington.