Donald Trump (L); John Kelly (R).Photo:James Devaney/GC; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty
James Devaney/GC; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty
In the statement, the retired U.S. Marine Corps general, 73, described Trump, 77, as “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.'”
Speaking further into the former commander-in-chief’s view towards service members, he shared that Trump “is a person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’”
Robert Kelly, Donald Trump, and Mike Pence at Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia.Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty
Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty
While the publication reported that Kelly declined to comment at the time, an unidentified friend of Kelly told the outlet that Trump “can’t fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself.”
“Trump can’t imagine anyone else’s pain," Kelly’s friend said, perThe Atlantic. “That’s why he would say this to the father of a fallen marine on Memorial Day in the cemetery where he’s buried.”
Kelly also told CNN that Trump is a “person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about.”
“A person who cavalierly suggests that a selfless warrior who has served his country for 40 years in peacetime and war should lose his life for treason – in expectation that someone will take action,” Kelly continued to CNN. “A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.”
CNN reports that they did reach out to the Trump campaign to tell them a member of his administration confirmed parts of theAtlanticstory. They reportedly responded with a statement about retired Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman GeneralMark Milley.
“John Kelly has totally clowned himself with these debunked stories he’s made up because he didn’t serve his President well while working as Chief of Staff,” a Trump campaign spokesperson later toldAxiosandThe Washington Postin response to Kelly’s statement.
The statement was published amid mounting legal troubles for Trump. Although he announced that he is officiallyrunning for president again, he has beenindicted in four criminal investigationsand is facing atotal of 91 felony counts.
Former President Donald Trump.Sean Rayford/Getty
Sean Rayford/Getty
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“Today, a judge ruled in our favor and found that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization engaged in years of financial fraud,” James said in a Sept. 26 statement. “We look forward to presenting the rest of our case at trial.”
source: people.com
