By Mary Jones and Tony Bruce | Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 2 min read
Former President Donald Trump fired back at his former White House chief of staff, John Kelly, following the ex-aide’s recent criticisms. Kelly had raised alarms about the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency and confirmed troubling remarks Trump allegedly made about Adolf Hitler.
In interviews with The Atlantic and The New York Times on Tuesday, Kelly expressed his unease over Trump’s promises to use military force against political opponents. The retired Marine general went so far as to suggest that Trump fits the description of a fascist and would likely rule with authoritarian tendencies if he returns to office.
In a startling revelation to The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, John Kelly confirmed a previously reported incident in which Trump questioned why Kelly wouldn’t emulate “the German generals” who were “completely loyal” to Hitler.
Trump’s team has consistently denied he made such comments, and the former president responded on social media Wednesday, launching an attack on Kelly. “Thank you for your support against a total degenerate named John Kelly, who made up a story out of pure Trump Derangement Syndrome Hatred!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This guy had two qualities, which don’t work well together. He was tough and dumb. The problem is his toughness morphed into weakness, because he became JELLO with time!”
The Atlantic also revealed that Trump had initially promised the mother of a 20-year-old Army private, who was killed by another U.S. soldier in 2020, to help cover funeral expenses. However, after learning the cost would be $60,000, Trump reportedly became furious and instructed his aides not to follow through with the payment.
“It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a f—ing Mexican!” Trump allegedly said, adding, “Don’t pay it!” The Army private in question, Vanessa Guillén, was the daughter of Mexican immigrants and grew up in Houston.
On Wednesday, Trump vehemently denied the reports that he was upset over the funeral costs, calling them false. “I always feel it’s necessary to hit back in pursuit of THE TRUTH,” he wrote on Truth Social. “John Kelly is a LOWLIFE and a bad General, whose advice in the White House I no longer sought, and told him to MOVE ON!”
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