Retired Gen. John Kelly, who served as White House chief of staff during the Trump administration, said former President Trump praised the loyalty of Adolf Hitler's generals. New interview with The Atlantic magazine on tuesday.
In an interview with Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, Mr. Kelly confirmed the report. From Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's book, “The Divider: Trump in the White House,” President Trump asks his then-chief of staff, Kelly, “Why can't you be more like a German general?” Quoted.
According to Goldberg's account of Baker and Glasser's reporting, Kelly told Trump that German generals “tried to kill Hitler three times and almost did it.” Trump was reportedly unfazed by the correction.
“Oh no, they were completely loyal to him,” Goldberg said of Baker and Glasser's reporting.
Goldberg said in an article published Tuesday that he asked Kelly about the exchange in a new interview this week. Mr. Goldberg wrote that Mr. Kelly “told me that when Mr. Trump brought up the topic of 'German generals,' Mr. Kelly responded: [Otto von] General Bismarck? ”
Kelly went on to say in an interview with Goldberg this week, “I mean, I knew he didn't know who Bismarck was, he didn't know about the Franco-Prussian War. I said, 'You mean the Kaiser's general? Are you talking about that? I'm sure you can't do that.'' Did you mean Hitler's general? And he said, “Yes, yes, Hitler's general.'' I explained to him as follows [Erwin] Rommel had to commit suicide after participating in a conspiracy against Hitler. ”
Goldberg said Kelly told him that Trump did not know Rommel.
Goldberg reported that Trump is “increasingly interested in the benefits of dictatorship” and cited other examples that appear to demonstrate this alleged interest.
“I need a general like Hitler,” Trump reportedly said in a private conversation at the White House, Goldberg said, adding that “two people who heard him say that ”.
Goldberg added that Trump was “a man who was completely loyal to the president and followed orders.”
The Trump campaign flatly rejected this explanation.
“This is completely false. President Trump never said that,” Trump campaign adviser Alex Pfeiffer said in a statement, which was reported in The Atlantic and repeated by a Trump spokesperson. – Sent to Hill.
“President Donald Trump has spent his life caring for America's military heroes. As president, he kept our nation's troops out of harm's way, secured the largest pay increase for soldiers in a decade, and made history. As a civilian, he has supported veterans financially and has been a strong advocate for Kabul's Gold Star families. ” Pfeiffer said in a separate statement from his campaign, responding to the reports in general.
Kelly publicly acknowledged reports that he had similar interactions with Trump while in office.
Earlier this year, CNN's Jim Schutt wrote that Kelly quoted President Trump's comment that “Hitler did some good things.” In response, the Trump campaign said Kelly was “completely confused” and “suffering from severe Trump Derangement Syndrome” and should “seek professional help.”
Kelly also famously admitted in 2018 that Trump had called a deceased U.S. service member a “suck.” Trump also denied the remarks at the time, saying Kelly was “lying” and suggesting Kelly was motivated by “hate against me.”
