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Recent reporting from The Atlantic has brought to light alleged comments by former President Donald Trump expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler's military command structure, claims that have been strongly denied by his campaign but corroborated by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
According to The Atlantic's investigation, Trump reportedly stated during a private White House conversation, "I need the kind of generals that Hitler had," adding he wanted leaders who were "totally loyal to him, that follow orders." The publication cites two unnamed witnesses to the conversation.
Trump campaign spokesman Alex Pfeiffer immediately contested these claims, telling reporters, "This is absolutely false, President Trump never said this." However, the denials face scrutiny in light of similar allegations from multiple sources, including Kelly's recent statements to The New York Times.
Kelly, in his Times interview, offered a stark assessment of his former boss, suggesting Trump fits "the definition of fascism" as a "far-right authoritarian, ultranationalist" leader. He expressed particular concern over Trump's recent rhetoric about using military force against what Trump termed the "enemy within."
These latest allegations align with previously reported incidents. In "The Divider: Trump in the White House," authors Peter Baker and Susan Glasser documented an exchange where Trump allegedly asked Kelly, "Why can't you be like the German generals?" When Kelly explained that Hitler's generals had attempted to assassinate him three times, Trump reportedly insisted, "No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him."
The controversy extends beyond military leadership discussions. Kelly confirmed to The Atlantic that Trump had praised certain aspects of Hitler's leadership, including economic policies. Kelly recounted telling Trump, "Sir, you can never say anything good about the guy. Nothing."
The Trump campaign has vigorously defended the former president's military record. "President Donald Trump has spent his life caring for America's military heroes," Pfeiffer stated, citing Trump's implementation of "the largest pay raise for our troops in a decade" and his VA reforms during his presidency.
These revelations emerge as Trump campaigns for the 2024 presidential election, adding to ongoing discussions about his leadership style and vision for military command structure. The allegations have sparked renewed debate about the relationship between civilian leadership and military authority in American democracy.
