Kamala Harris/ Donald Trump/ John Kelly/ Hitler remarks/ 2024 election/ Trump fascism/ military generals/ Newslooks/ ASTON/ PENNSYLVANIA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump a “fascist” after former chief of staff John Kelly’s revelations that Trump admired Adolf Hitler’s leadership style. Kelly’s comments, made in interviews with The New York Times and The Atlantic, highlighted Trump’s praise for Hitler and his desire for personal loyalty over constitutional adherence. As the election approaches, Harris emphasized that these statements reveal Trump’s true nature and serve as a warning to voters.
Trump Fascism Allegations: Quick Looks
- Kamala Harris’s accusation: Harris called Trump a “fascist” in response to John Kelly’s remarks about Trump admiring Hitler.
- Kelly’s revelations: Former chief of staff Kelly stated that Trump praised Hitler and sought military generals like his.
- Election implications: With two weeks until the election, Harris highlighted Kelly’s comments to warn voters about Trump’s leadership.
- Trump’s response: Trump denied Kelly’s claims and criticized him, accusing Kelly of fabricating the story.
Kamala Harris Labels Trump as ‘Fascist’ Amid Kelly’s Comments
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris labeled Donald Trump a “fascist” following alarming revelations from John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff. Kelly, who served the former president from 2017 to 2019, recently gave interviews to The New York Times and The Atlantic, describing disturbing moments when Trump praised Adolf Hitler’s leadership, sparking fresh concerns about the Republican candidate’s fitness for office.
At a CNN town hall, Harris confirmed her belief that Trump is indeed a fascist. When asked directly if she thought Trump fit the label, Harris responded without hesitation: “Yes, I do.” She later reiterated her position, stating that Trump, if re-elected, would be a leader who “admires dictators and is a fascist.” The vice president said these remarks offered a clear insight into Trump’s character and how he would behave if he were to return to the presidency.
Harris pointed to Kelly’s remarks as a crucial message to the American electorate. She referred to Kelly’s statements as a “911 call to the American people,” noting that they come at a pivotal moment just weeks before voters decide whether to send Trump back to the Oval Office. Harris stressed the need for a president who upholds the Constitution, not one who compares themselves to figures like Hitler in an admiring way.
Kelly’s interviews added fuel to an already contentious election cycle. In the interviews, Kelly recounted Trump’s unsettling remarks, including multiple instances where Trump praised Hitler by saying, “You know, Hitler did some good things, too.” Kelly said he would try to shut down these conversations, but Trump would occasionally bring up the topic again, showing an alarming fascination with the Nazi dictator.
Kelly also mentioned Trump’s yearning for military leaders who would demonstrate the same blind loyalty that Hitler’s generals had. When Trump brought up the idea of wanting “German generals,” Kelly clarified whether Trump meant those from Otto von Bismarck’s time, to which Trump responded, “No, Hitler’s generals.”
Harris seized on this narrative to further paint Trump as a threat to American democracy. She remarked that Trump doesn’t want a military that serves the Constitution, but one that serves him personally. She argued that a second Trump presidency would be even more dangerous, as he would not have people around him to restrain his authoritarian impulses.
This isn’t the first time Kelly has been critical of Trump. During his time in office and since, Kelly has publicly rebuked Trump on various occasions. Notably, he once accused Trump of calling fallen veterans “suckers” and “losers.” His recent comments add to a growing list of former Trump officials who have expressed concern about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. Kelly’s warnings align with statements from other former high-ranking officials, including retired Army Gen. Mark Milley and former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, both of whom have condemned Trump as a threat to democracy.
Trump quickly fired back at Kelly, taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, to deny the claims and insult his former chief of staff. He accused Kelly of fabricating the story and called him a weak leader. Trump’s campaign also rejected the story, with spokesperson Steven Cheung stating that Kelly “beclowned himself” and peddled “debunked stories.”
Despite these warnings, some of Trump’s supporters appear unfazed. For instance, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who has been a critic of Trump in the past, stated that the revelations wouldn’t change his decision to vote for Trump in the upcoming election. He downplayed the significance of Kelly’s remarks, saying, “We’ve heard a lot of extreme things about Donald Trump, from Donald Trump.”
Among voters in key swing states, Kelly’s comments have largely been met with indifference. Jim Lytner, a veteran from Nevada, dismissed Kelly’s criticism, asserting that Trump’s presidency was beneficial for the country. Lytner went as far as to suggest Kelly should “have his butt kicked” for speaking out against Trump.
Harris’ remarks and Kelly’s bombshell comments come at a time when polls show a tight race, especially in battleground states. As both campaigns scramble to sway undecided voters, Harris has sharpened her closing arguments by emphasizing the potential dangers of another Trump presidency. Her team has reached out to independent voters, spotlighting Republicans who have turned against Trump, including former Congresswoman Liz Cheney and other notable figures.
The Harris campaign also held a press call earlier in the week, featuring retired military officials who voiced their concerns about Trump’s leadership. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson commented that those who know Trump best are the ones most opposed to him. He lamented that Kelly hadn’t fully endorsed Harris over Trump, but Col. Kevin Carroll, a former senior counselor to Kelly, stated that Kelly would “rather chew broken glass than vote for Donald Trump.”
Kelly’s troubling account of Trump’s admiration for Hitler, combined with his claims that Trump yearned to govern without checks and balances, paints a disturbing picture of what a second Trump term might look like. These revelations have bolstered Harris’ message to the American people, serving as a stark warning of the risks of re-electing Trump. However, with Trump continuing to command strong support from his base, particularly among military veterans, the election remains on a knife-edge.
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