Donald Trump labelled 'authoritarian' by former White House Chief of Staff

Donald Trump has built a reputation for making bold and often divisive comments throughout his political career. Whether on social media or in speeches, his statements frequently ignite controversy, leaving his supporters and critics in heated debate.

For instance, Trump allegedly called Kamala Harris the ‘r-word’ during a private fund-raising event.

However, some of his most troubling statements have been about historical figures or events that appear to glorify authoritarianism.

In the most recent controversy, people who have worked with the former President have claimed that the 78-year-old has made problematic statements about Adolf Hitler.

Donald Trump allegedly made admiring statements about Hitler and his generals

A report recently published by The Atlantic has painted Donald Trump in a very bad light. According to an article by Jeffrey Goldberg, Trump made a troubling comment when expressing frustration with US military leaders when he was in the White House.

He reportedly lamented that the US military generals weren’t sufficiently loyal to him. Trump said in private conversation, according to two people who were present:

I need the kind of generals that Hitler had…People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.

The exchange is also reported in The Divider: Trump in the White House book, as per The Independent.

As written in the book, John Kelly, former White House Chief of Staff, explained to Trump that Hitler's generals tried to kill him three times and ‘almost pulled it off,’ to which the former President responded ‘No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him.’

Kelly told The New York Times that Trump had, on more than one occasion, made admiring remarks about Hitler. He claimed the businessman said:

You know, Hitler did some good things too.

Trump accused of being fascist

The former president’s troubling remarks have often led people and Kelly to label him as a fascist. In a conversation with The New York Times, Kelly was asked if Trump was a ‘fascist.’ He read aloud a definition of fascism and said:

Well, looking at the definition of fascism…In my experience, those are the kinds of things that he thinks would work better in terms of running America.

Adding:

Certainly, the former president is in the far-right area, he’s certainly an authoritarian, and admires people who are dictators — he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure.

Kamala Harris opens up about Trump’s Hitler remarks

Kamala Harris has strongly condemned Donald Trump’s resurfaced comments and praised Kelly for sounding a ‘911 call’ about Trump's unfitness for office. During a CNN town hall in Pennsylvania, Harris responded to Kelly's revelations about Trump, particularly his admiration for Hitler’s generals, calling the former president a ‘fascist’ who poses a grave threat to democracy.

Emphasizing on Kelly’s remarks, Harris said:

I do believe that Donald Trump is unstable, increasingly unstable, and unfit to serve. The people who know Donald Trump best, the people who worked with him in the White House…they have said explicitly he has contempt for the constitution of the United States. They have said he should never again serve as president of the United States.

Harris also predicted a second term for Trump would mean hiring people and advisers who would let him do whatever he likes, reports The Guardian. She said:

[Kelly] is just putting out a 911 call to the American people.

Meanwhile, Trump's campaign spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer has stated that the claims are 'absolutely false.' He told The Independent:

President Trump never said this.

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Sources used:

The Atlantic: Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’

The Independent: Trump reportedly told others he needs ‘the kind of generals that Hitler had’

The New York Times: As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator

The Guardian: Harris praises John Kelly for sending ‘911 call’ to the US over Trump’s fitness to serve