John Kelly, Donald Trump’s former chief of staff and one of the highest-ranking officials during his presidency, has expressed serious concerns about the possibility of Trump returning to the White House.
In several interviews with The New York Times, Kelly said he considers Trump a serious threat to American democracy.
Kelly, who served as Trump's chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, stated that Trump seeks unlimited power and does not understand that, in a democracy, presidential authority is limited.
Kelly stressed: "Trump would rule like a dictator if given the chance."
Kelly was particularly alarmed by Trump’s admiring remarks about Adolf Hitler. According to Kelly, Trump has said on multiple occasions that "Hitler also did good things."
Kelly tried to correct these statements, explaining to Trump that everything Hitler did was driven by a racist and fascist ideology.
Trump’s derogatory remarks about American soldiers killed in combat, and his lack of understanding regarding selflessness and service to the nation, also deeply concerned Kelly.
Kelly described Trump as someone who does not grasp America’s core values. Particularly troubling was Trump's consideration of using the U.S. military against domestic enemies, which Kelly described as "extremely dangerous."
He emphasized that Trump placed loyalty to himself above loyalty to the Constitution, which, in Kelly’s view, makes him a leader with fascist tendencies.
