Trump's alarming fascist traits exposed by ex‑chief of staff
Donald Trump fits the definition of a fascist and has aspirations to govern as a dictator, according to General John Kelly, former White House Chief of Staff. In interviews with "The New York Times" and "The Atlantic" magazine, Kelly also recounted that Trump repeatedly claimed that "Hitler also did some good things."
10:06 AM EDT, October 23, 2024
Kelly, who was first the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in Trump's administration and then the White House Chief of Staff, told the "NYT" that he decided to give the interview after Trump's suggestion to use the military to suppress riots on election day.
When asked if the former president is a fascist, the retired general responded that Trump fits the definition of the term.
- Certainly the former president is in the far-right area, he’s certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators - said Kelly.
He added that he was surprised and never accepted it when he was told that his subordinates were first loyal to the Constitution, and not to him personally.
Trump wanted generals like Hitler's
Kelly directly confirmed earlier reports that the former president "more than once" claimed Adolf Hitler "did some good things, too." He also confirmed that Trump often referred to veterans and fallen soldiers as "suckers and losers" and did not want to be photographed with soldiers who had lost limbs.
In an interview with "The Atlantic", Kelly mentioned that Trump expressed frustration, asking why his generals couldn't be more like the German generals. When Kelly inquired whether Trump was referring to the generals from the time of Bismarck or the German emperor, Trump clarified that he meant the generals who served under Hitler.
Kelly recounted that he had informed Trump about Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was forced to commit suicide after being involved in a conspiracy against Hitler. He also noted that Trump was unfamiliar with Rommel or the military plots against Hitler.
Former Trump associates warn against his re-election
Kelly is one of many former Trump associates who have warned voters this year against re-electing the former president. In addition to Kelly, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and former Pentagon Chief Gen. James Mattis have also called Trump a fascist.
Former national security advisors John Bolton and H.R. McMaster, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former Pentagon Chief Mark Esper, and former Vice President Mike Pence have also spoken about the dangers of a second Trump term.
