John Kelly, a former four-star Marine general and ex-chief of staff to Donald Trump, openly criticized his former boss in a startling interview with The New York Times, just weeks before the upcoming election. Kelly, who has previously kept quiet about his time in the Trump administration, felt compelled to speak out after Trump’s remarks about potentially using the military against domestic opponents, which he referred to as the “enemy within.”
Kelly condemned Trump’s suggestions, stating that using military force against American citizens is a dangerous idea, even when framed as a political strategy. He elaborated on his concerns, comparing Trump to a fascist, based on characteristics he associated with authoritarian leaders, such as dictatorial governance and suppression of opposition.
He recounted a disturbing comment from Trump, expressing a desire for generals akin to those under Adolf Hitler, a remark he urged Trump not to repeat. In response, Trump dismissed Kelly’s comments as lies and criticized him harshly on his Truth Social platform, calling him a “total degenerate” and a “LOWLIFE.”
The criticism from Kelly is part of a growing list of former Trump officials who have voiced serious apprehension about Trump’s behavior and suitability for office. Notably, Mark Milley, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, labeled Trump a “fascist to the core,” while Mark Esper, Trump’s former defense secretary, expressed concern over the former president’s potential military usage against domestic critics, particularly in a potential second term.
In recent comments, Trump’s campaign responded to Kelly’s remarks, accusing him of fabricating stories stemming from ineffective service as chief of staff and suggesting he suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The campaign also highlighted how Trump has historically respected military personnel, contrasting that with what they characterized as disrespect from Vice President Kamala Harris.
As early voting has commenced, Kelly’s comments have been leveraged by the Harris campaign, which enlisted other Republican former military leaders to reinforce the gravity of his statements. They caution that Trump’s approach threatens national stability and could have dire implications.
Despite the escalating discourse, political analysts suggest that entrenched opinions about Trump may make it challenging for these criticisms to affect voter sentiment. GOP pollster Robert Blizzard remarked that it is unlikely any new revelations will significantly shift public opinion given the long-standing debate about Trump’s character. Nevertheless, the mounting critiques from former insiders could impact undecided voters in the countdown to the election, as both campaigns strive for any advantage.