Ex-CoS Kelly Agrees with Mattis on Trump
Yesterday, former WH chief of state John Kelly contradicted Trump’s story about firing SecDec Jim Mattis, reminding the world that Mattis had resigned in protest after Trump ordered our troops out of Syria. This morning he took the next step:
Former White House chief of Staff John Kelly: 'I agree' with Jim Mattis on Trump
Former White House chief of staff John Kelly said Friday he agrees with former Secretary of Defense Gen. Jim Mattis' stark warning this week that President Donald Trump is “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people” as nationwide protests have intensified over the death of George Floyd.
“I agree with him,” Kelly told Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director, during a live-streamed interview.
Then he said:
“There is a concern, I think an awful big concern, that the partisanship has gotten out of hand, the tribal thing has gotten out of hand,” Kelly said. “He's quite a man, Jim Mattis, and for him to do that tells you where he is relative to the concern he has for our country.”
and he added:
Kelly, who has in the past voiced criticisms of the Trump administration since leaving his post, told Scaramucci that it is important to focus on the character of officials when the public makes the decision on who to elect.
“I think we need to look harder at who we elect,” Kelly said on Friday. “I think we should look at people that are running for office and put them through the filter: What is their character like? What are their ethics?”
Trump tore into Kelly yesterday just for saying he was wrong about the Mattis resignation. Wait until he hears about this one. It almost sounds like Kelly is endorsing Joe Biden.
John Kelly has committed lots of sins (I’m in a religious mood — or mode — this morning). I’m not sure that anything can redeem him, but even so, we should welcome any and all attacks on Trump. (There is a Churchill quote that comes to mind: “If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.” )
