(Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Andrew Harrer)
Former Secretary of Homeland Security and Trump’s Chief of Staff, John Kelly, has publicly condemned his former boss, painting Donald Trump as an authoritarian with little regard for the Constitution, empathy, or military service.
According to Kelly, Trump even expressed admiration for fascist regimes, claiming such a style of governance would be more effective for America. Recent revelations from The New York Times include an audio recording where Kelly alleged Trump praised Hitler, reportedly saying the dictator “did some good things.”
Kelly emphasized Trump’s lack of historical knowledge in his statement to Mediaite, saying, “He commented more than once that Hitler did some good things, too. And of course, if you know history…it would be pretty hard to make an argument that he did anything good.”
Kelly suggested that anyone familiar with history understands Hitler’s actions were entirely rooted in racist and fascist beliefs. Earlier this year, Kelly revealed that Trump lauded Hitler’s supposed economic accomplishments, which he argued ‘revitalized’ Germany after coming to power in 1933.
Kelly further claimed that Trump was frustrated with constitutional limitations on his authority and even preferred a dictatorial governance style. Kelly noted that Trump appeared surprised when generals he appointed—both retired and active—prioritized loyalty to the Constitution over allegiance to him. According to Kelly, Trump’s stance was another reflection of his misunderstanding and disregard for the principles of democracy.
In a further assertion, Kelly reiterated that Trump had disparaged wounded and deceased veterans, allegedly calling them “losers and suckers.” According to Forbes, Kelly claimed Trump once expressed a desire to avoid being photographed with amputees who had served in the military. “To me, I could never understand why he was that way,” Kelly said. “He may be the only American citizen that feels that way about those who gave their lives or served their country,”
Kelly warned of the dangers posed by an unfit individual in a position of power, echoing his concerns about Trump’s potential return to office. In response, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign enlisted retired Army Reserve Colonel Kevin Carroll, who, at a rally, described Kelly as a “dedicated, measured public servant” with unique insight into Trump’s leadership. “He’s warning us that a second Trump term would be dangerous,” Carroll stated, as reported by USA Today.
Trump, however, has not held back in his attacks on Kelly, claiming he failed to meet the demands of his position. Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, dismissed Kelly’s comments as a result of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” accusing Kelly of fabricating these allegations out of bitterness over his performance as Chief of Staff.
