Donald Trump has sharply criticized his former chief of staff, John Kelly, labeling him a “degenerate” and a “low life” following Kelly's comments about Trump's behavior during his presidency. Kelly's remarks, made in a New York Times interview, drew significant attention when he described Trump as fitting the “general definition of a fascist” and lamented that Trump expressed a desire for loyalty from military generals similar to that shown to Adolf Hitler.
The controversy intensified when Vice President Kamala Harris supported Kelly's stance. During a CNN town hall meeting, she echoed Kelly’s warnings about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, describing it as a “911 call” to the nation. Harris stated that Trump’s remarks were “deeply troubling and incredibly dangerous,” highlighting his invocation of Hitler’s name as indicative of his quest for “unchecked power.”
In response, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to disparage Kelly, whom he had appointed as chief of staff for 18 months. Trump claimed Kelly's comments were a product of "pure Trump Derangement Syndrome" and described him as “tough and dumb.” He further accused Harris of misrepresenting his comments, alleging that she called him Adolf Hitler in a misguided attempt to improve her standing in the polls.
Trump's campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, criticized Harris’s rhetoric, suggesting it was responsible for multiple assassination attempts against Trump. Despite this, Kelly's characterization of Trump as an authoritarian was supported by Elizabeth Neumann, a former deputy chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, who remarked that Trump “does not operate by the rule of law” and has “authoritarian tendencies.”
The conflict over Kelly’s remarks has drawn mixed reactions from Republicans. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu called Kelly’s portrayal of Trump “an outrageous statement” but acknowledged the personal differences between the two.
As the debate raged on, Trump also addressed ongoing investigations into his actions during the 2020 election, stating that he would fire special counsel Jack Smith if elected again. Trump expressed confidence in his legal standing, referencing a Supreme Court ruling that grants presidents immunity for actions taken while in office.
With tensions running high, the clash between Trump and Kelly has become a focal point in the lead-up to the presidential election, reigniting discussions about Trump's leadership style and the implications of his rhetoric.
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