This was probably John Kelly's 'final straw' with Trump: CNN's Jake Tapper
Former President Donald Trump's one-time Chief of Staff and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly remained silent for years, both in and out of office, as his former boss attacked the troops — but he finally crossed a line that Kelly could no longer tolerate, said CNN's Jake Tapper on Tuesday.
This comes as Kelly is going public to confirm many of Trump's most controversial remarks disparaging servicemembers.
"Jake, the significance of this in normal times, former Chief of Staff coming out saying things on the record, is dramatic," said anchor Phil Mattingly. "In this past administration, so many people have come out and said so many things and confirmed lots of stuff. But this was different. John Kelly was different. Why?"
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"I think what was the final straw for Kelly — and I've been talking to Kelly, I've known him for a long time, since before even he was the Department of Homeland Security Secretary," said Tapper. "And I think what — I'm assuming here. I'm interpreting. This is not a statement of fact. But I think if I may speculate, I think the statement about executing Mark Milley might have been the final straw for him."
"He's really been very upset about what Trump has been saying," Tapper continued. "Trump is disparaging of Gold Star families, disparaging of wounded veterans, disparaging of soldiers who gave their lives in World War I, has been very upsetting for him for years and years and years. But I think the comments about Mark Milley, who served his country honorably for 40 years, the threatening to execute him, and then, in Kelly's view, he thinks that Trump saying that publicly is basically a call to arms, a hope that one of Trump's followers will then take action against General Milley. And I think that probably is what pushed him over the edge to finally come forward and give this blistering commentary about what he thinks about Trump."
"When you read the comments — I mean, these are the comments of a patriot, of a soldier, of a Marine," added Tapper. "The comments of a conservative Republican. This is not him outflanking Trump on the left. But he is very, very disappointed."
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