Trump and Former White House Staff Dismiss John Kelly's "Fascist" Accusations
Former President Donald Trump and members of his previous administration have dismissed allegations made by ex-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as "completely untrue."
Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who served in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019, has repeatedly criticized Trump during the election, most recently in interviews with The New York Times and The Atlantic. In these interviews, Kelly characterized Trump as a fascist and claimed that the former president expressed a desire for "German generals," akin to Nazi leader Adolph Hitler.
Several Trump administration members, including Mike Ayers, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, have vehemently denied these allegations.
Ayers stated, “I’ve avoided commenting on intra-staff leaks or rumors or even lies as it relates to my time at the White House but General Kelly’s comments regarding President Trump are too egregious to ignore,” He further added, “I was with each of them more than most, and his commentary is *patently false.*”
Mark Paoletta, general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), also refuted Kelly's claims, stating, "I don’t believe a word he says. He was a terrible chief of staff who dishonestly kept information from the President to pursue his own agenda.”
Trump himself rejected the stories on Oct. 23, accusing Kelly of fabricating a story out of pure hatred for him. “Even though I shouldn’t be wasting my time with him, I always feel it’s necessary to hit back in pursuit of THE TRUTH,” Trump stated.
Kelly's interviews were published less than two weeks before Election Day, a time when early voting was underway across several states and Trump was beginning to lead in battleground state polls.
Following Kelly's stories, Vice President Kamala Harris stated at a CNN town hall that she believed Trump to be a fascist.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded directly to these comments, stating, “This is the kind of inflammatory poison that divides our nation and inspires assassins.”
The Atlantic also alleged that Trump made derogatory remarks about a deceased military servicemember and was reluctant to cover her funeral expenses. Trump vehemently denied these claims at a news conference in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25.
He stated that he was prepared to personally fund the funeral for Vanessa Guillen, 20, who was murdered in 2020 while stationed at an Army base in Texas, then known as Fort Hood. Guillen's murder and subsequent dismemberment sparked outrage over sexual harassment at U.S. military bases, leading to changes in laws and disciplinary action against 21 Army personnel.
Trump expressed gratitude to Guillen’s family for publicly refuting The Atlantic’s allegations. The family showed their support for Trump as he addressed reporters at Million Air Austin, a private airplane service.
Trump pointed out that The Atlantic's article was released just before the Nov. 5 election, increasing the probability that a portion of readers would believe the magazine's report and use it against his candidacy.
The Epoch Times has reached out to The Atlantic for comment.
Bottom Line
The allegations and counter-allegations surrounding Trump's presidency continue to stir debate. The timing of these claims, their veracity, and the motivations behind them all contribute to a complex and contentious political landscape. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
Trump and Former White House Staff Dismiss John Kelly's "Fascist" Accusations
Former President Donald Trump and members of his previous administration have dismissed allegations made by ex-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as "completely untrue."
Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who served in the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019, has repeatedly criticized Trump during the election, most recently in interviews with The New York Times and The Atlantic. In these interviews, Kelly characterized Trump as a fascist and claimed that the former president expressed a desire for "German generals," akin to Nazi leader Adolph Hitler.
Several Trump administration members, including Mike Ayers, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, have vehemently denied these allegations.
Ayers stated, “I’ve avoided commenting on intra-staff leaks or rumors or even lies as it relates to my time at the White House but General Kelly’s comments regarding President Trump are too egregious to ignore,” He further added, “I was with each of them more than most, and his commentary is *patently false.*”
Mark Paoletta, general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), also refuted Kelly's claims, stating, "I don’t believe a word he says. He was a terrible chief of staff who dishonestly kept information from the President to pursue his own agenda.”
Trump himself rejected the stories on Oct. 23, accusing Kelly of fabricating a story out of pure hatred for him. “Even though I shouldn’t be wasting my time with him, I always feel it’s necessary to hit back in pursuit of THE TRUTH,” Trump stated.
Kelly's interviews were published less than two weeks before Election Day, a time when early voting was underway across several states and Trump was beginning to lead in battleground state polls.
Following Kelly's stories, Vice President Kamala Harris stated at a CNN town hall that she believed Trump to be a fascist.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded directly to these comments, stating, “This is the kind of inflammatory poison that divides our nation and inspires assassins.”
The Atlantic also alleged that Trump made derogatory remarks about a deceased military servicemember and was reluctant to cover her funeral expenses. Trump vehemently denied these claims at a news conference in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25.
He stated that he was prepared to personally fund the funeral for Vanessa Guillen, 20, who was murdered in 2020 while stationed at an Army base in Texas, then known as Fort Hood. Guillen's murder and subsequent dismemberment sparked outrage over sexual harassment at U.S. military bases, leading to changes in laws and disciplinary action against 21 Army personnel.
Trump expressed gratitude to Guillen’s family for publicly refuting The Atlantic’s allegations. The family showed their support for Trump as he addressed reporters at Million Air Austin, a private airplane service.
Trump pointed out that The Atlantic's article was released just before the Nov. 5 election, increasing the probability that a portion of readers would believe the magazine's report and use it against his candidacy.
The Epoch Times has reached out to The Atlantic for comment.
Bottom Line
The allegations and counter-allegations surrounding Trump's presidency continue to stir debate. The timing of these claims, their veracity, and the motivations behind them all contribute to a complex and contentious political landscape. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
