John Kelly, the retired Marine general who served as Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff, has made a series of striking allegations about the former president’s authoritarian inclinations, just two weeks before the 2024 presidential election. Kelly’s comments, published in interviews with The New York Times and The Atlantic on Tuesday, claim that Trump fits “into the general definition of fascist” and that he wanted military subordinates to show him the same level of deference that Adolf Hitler’s generals displayed during World War II.
Kelly served as Trump’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, witnessing firsthand the inner workings of the Trump administration. His recent statements mark a rare public critique of Trump from a former senior official, adding to a growing chorus of warnings from former aides and insiders about Trump’s vision of the presidency and how he might govern if re-elected.
In his interview with The New York Times, Kelly described Trump’s preference for authoritarian governance. “He certainly prefers the dictator approach to government,” Kelly stated, characterizing Trump’s view of leadership as seeking control and loyalty above all else. Kelly’s portrayal aligns with other reports from former Trump officials, who have voiced concerns about his disregard for democratic norms.
A particularly controversial detail from Kelly’s interview with The Atlantic centers around an exchange where Trump allegedly expressed admiration for the loyalty of Hitler’s military officers. According to Kelly, Trump commented that he wished his generals showed him the same respect and obedience as Hitler’s generals did during World War II. When Kelly sought clarification, he recounted asking Trump, “‘Do you mean Bismarck’s generals?’” referring to the Prussian leader known for unifying Germany. “I mean, I knew he didn’t know who Bismarck was, or about the Franco-Prussian War. I said, ‘Do you mean the kaiser’s generals? Surely you can’t mean Hitler’s generals?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, yeah, Hitler’s generals.’”
Kelly further explained to The Atlantic that he informed Trump about the historical reality of Hitler’s generals, including the fact that Erwin Rommel, a prominent German general, was forced to commit suicide after being implicated in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Despite the lesson, Kelly suggested that Trump remained uninterested in the nuances of history, focusing instead on the notion of absolute loyalty.
Trump’s campaign has strongly denied the exchange described by Kelly. In a statement, campaign adviser Alex Pfeiffer said, “This is absolutely false. President Trump never said this.” The denial underscores the contentious nature of the allegations, which come at a critical time in the 2024 election cycle.
However, Democrats have quickly seized on Kelly’s remarks, using them as evidence of Trump’s dangerous approach to leadership. At a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday night, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, condemned Trump’s reported admiration for Hitler’s generals. “Folks, the guardrails are gone. Trump is descending into this madness — a former president of the United States and the candidate for president of the United States says he wants generals like Adolf Hitler had,” Walz said, addressing a crowd of supporters. He added, “The reported comments about Hitler’s generals make me sick as hell.”
Walz’s comments reflect a broader concern among Democrats that Trump’s return to the White House would lead to a further erosion of democratic norms and principles. With Election Day fast approaching, Kelly’s statements have injected new controversy into an already contentious race, potentially influencing undecided voters and further polarizing the political landscape.
Kelly’s remarks also add to the list of criticisms from former Trump insiders, such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who have spoken out against Trump’s leadership style. The latest revelations underscore a growing concern about how Trump might wield power if given another term, particularly in his approach to the military and the federal government’s structure.
As the 2024 election enters its final stretch, these allegations have stirred debates about the kind of leadership the country needs. While Trump’s supporters have largely dismissed such critiques as partisan attacks, Kelly’s direct experience in the White House lends weight to the concerns he has raised. Whether these comments will sway voters remains uncertain, but they add yet another layer to the charged political atmosphere as the country heads to the polls.