Former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, clashed with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday as he tried to go after the character of decorated generals who served under the former president and, like many other former Trump administration officials, have now come out against him as unfit to lead.
"Speaking on General Milley, he was like, you stated he was standing with him next to the Bible and so forth and —" began Maldonado.
Which he regretted," Cooper butt in.
Maldonado continued: "But a lot of these people, Anderson, when they're working for him, he's a good guy President Trump's good when they're working for him. Donald Trump hasn't changed in his whole life in 2016 when he ran—"
"I don't think they're saying he was good when they were working for him," Cooper cut in again. "They've left and they're saying what they saw was—"
"But what I'm saying is that they're only after President Trump after they leave or they've been fired, one of the two," insisted Maldonado.
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"Wait a minute," Cooper interjected. "So you believe highly decorated General Milley, General Kelly, who was the chief of staff, whose son died serving this country, you believe that they are making stuff up?"
"No, not. I'm not saying —" replied Maldonado, but Cooper pushed back again.
"Well, you are. You're saying they're only saying this after they've left?"
"No, what I'm saying, Anderson, they worked for President Trump," said Maldonado. "While they were in the White House, President Trump was a good president."
"Well, they're not saying that," Cooper said, becoming increasingly frustrated.
"They were cashing his check, they were working for him. They were, I mean, getting paid–" Maldonado said.
"Actually, General Milley was working at the Pentagon, he was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," corrected Cooper.
"But he works at the pleasure of the president," said Maldonado. "I mean, at the end of the day he was working for President Trump, all of a sudden either Trump fires—"
"Actually, most people in the military are serving the country and have sworn to defend the Constitution, not the president of the United States," said Cooper.
"But Anderson, I'm telling you how I feel how people all of a sudden come after President Trump—" Maldonado continued.
"Right, but what you — how you feel is not factually correct, so you're saying things which are not factually correct," said Anderson.
A few moments later he added: "What people feel and what polls show is not actually factually correct. You're saying that they were saying he was great while they were serving under him, and then, for some reason later on, they're saying not. That's not factually correct."
Later in the segment, Anderson said, "I don't think we can know why they went to work for him because I think a lot of military people would say they went to work for an administration because they felt they could perhaps temper that administration."
Maldonado continued to protest.
As Maldonado defended attacks that Trump has said fascist statements — saying Trump is a New Yorker, a fighter and a leader —a fed-up Cooper dropped a profanity.
"You're from California. The kids from the Central Park Five, they were actually New Yorkers. So the idea that Donald Trump's a New Yorker, and this is what New Yorkers say, is just bulls----."
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