Former White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, has made startling claims about former President Donald Trump’s alleged disrespectful remarks towards service members, military amputees and fallen soldiers.
The Chief of Staff
Kelly served as Trump’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019 and claims to have witnessed many of these events firsthand.
He also alleged that Trump was not truthful about his stance on key issues such as abortion, without providing further details.
Doesn’t Look Good
In a recent statement to CNN, John Kelly stated Donald Trump was, “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.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.”
Disdain for the Veteran
It has also been claimed that Trump expressed disdain for Army Captain Luis Avila, a five-tour veteran and amputee, who was chosen to sing ‘God Bless America’ at a military event.
Looking Back
At the 2019 event, Trump allegedly said, “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded.” Kelly’s recent comments have people looking back at this event as it seems to give the allegation greater credibility.
What Was in It for Them
There was also an incident in 2017 when Trump, during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, reportedly asked Kelly, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?” while standing among the headstones of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, including Kelly’s own son, who was killed in action in Afghanistan.
Not a War Hero
Trump’s comments about prisoners of war (POWs) were another source of controversy during his presidency. He famously remarked in 2015 that Sen. John McCain was “not a war hero” because he was captured, saying, “I like people who weren’t captured.”
Losers
Behind closed doors, it was alleged that Trump repeatedly called McCain and former President George H. W. Bush “losers.”
Paying Tribute
Kelly’s statement also mentioned Trump’s comments about the Gold Star Khan family during the 2016 election. Khizr Khan, speaking at the Democratic National Convention, paid tribute to his son, Humayun, who received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart after being killed in Iraq in 2004.
Allowed to Speak
Trump questioned why Ghazala Khan, Humayun’s mother, remained silent during the speech, suggesting she may not have been allowed to speak.
He said, “If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
Filled With Losers
Regarding Trump’s visit to France in 2018 to honor World War I American soldiers, it was reported that he had little interest in visiting a cemetery because he allegedly called it “filled with losers.”
Heroes
When discussing this event in Paris, Kelly emphasized, “Those are the heroes. In our society, there’s only one group of people who are more heroic than they are – and they are buried over in Arlington.”
Further Allegations
In addition to these allegations, Kelly accused Trump of being untruthful about his positions on major issues such as abortion, women’s rights, minorities, evangelical Christians, Jews, and working men and women. Kelly also criticized Trump’s admiration for autocrats and dictators and his contempt for democratic institutions, the Constitution, and the rule of law.
A Common Complaint
Kelly is not the first to come out with such allegations, as several members of Trump’s inner circle have previously spoken out against him, expressing concerns about his character and fitness for office.
Unfit for Office
In November 2022, Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper described Trump as “unfit for office” and said, “His actions are all about him and not about the country. And then, of course, I believe he has integrity and character issues as well.”
His Own Interests
Similarly, Former Attorney General Bill Barr referred to Trump as “a consummate narcissist” and said, “ He will always put his own interests, and gratifying his own ego, ahead of everything else, including the country’s interests.”
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This post A Consummate Narcissist”: Revelations Emerge About Trump’s Comments on Fallen Soldiers and Amputees from Former Staff and Associates first appeared on Edge.Media.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / John Kelly. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Keegan Leighty is a committed writer known for his impactful work in bringing attention to societal issues and injustices, using his platform to advocate for change and awareness. He also writes satire and stand up.