Former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on his former White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, following Kelly's confirmation of Trump's alleged derogatory remarks about deceased U.S. military personnel.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump lambasted Kelly, stating, "John Kelly, by far the dumbest of my Military people, just picked up the theme of the Radical Lefts lying about Gold Star Families and Soldiers, in his hatred of me."
Trump's vitriolic comments come in the wake of Kelly's affirmation of several details from a 2020 article published by The Atlantic. The article contained remarks Trump purportedly made during a visit to France in 2018. Kelly, in a conversation with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, quoted Trump as saying, "A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all suckers because there is nothing in it for them."
Kelly further alleged that Trump demonstrated "open contempt" for Gold Star families, a term used to describe the families of military personnel who have died in the line of duty. The Atlantic's 2020 article also claimed that Trump expressed reluctance to visit the graves of American soldiers interred at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France, reportedly stating, "Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers."
The former President is also alleged to have referred to the 1,800 U.S. Marines who lost their lives in World War I's Battle of Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed. In response to these allegations, Trump labeled Kelly a "lowlife with a very small brain and a very big mouth," accusing him of fabricating stories or corroborating false narratives to the "Dems and Radical Left."
Trump also claimed that Kelly's wife had assured him that Kelly would never speak ill of him. He added, "Numerous people are angry and upset because they know they will never be in a new Trump Administration, but only for one reason, theyre not nearly good enough. Kelly would be among those at the top of the list!
Kelly's comments mark the latest in a series of criticisms from former Trump staffers. Trump also took the opportunity to accuse Kelly of potentially lying about Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), referring to a 2017 dispute between Kelly and Wilson. Trump questioned, "Did he totally lie about another Lowlife, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson?
Kelly faced criticism in 2017 for his disparaging remarks about the Florida Democrat following the release of a video that showed he had misrepresented her comments during an FBI building dedication in 2015.
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