Tiny Red HandsBack

Kelly backs Mattis's warning over using troops against domestic protesters

Date
2020-06-05
Entry type
former-official-rebuke
Current status
Publicly separated from Trump on leadership and military use

The former chief of staff urged voters to scrutinize character and agreed with the defense secretary's constitutional concern.

Entities and roles

Relationships in this file

  1. Donald J. Trumpformer White House chief of staffJohn Kelly

Claims and evidence

  1. factreported

    Kelly publicly agreed with Mattis after Trump threatened military deployment against domestic demonstrations and federal officers cleared Lafayette Square. Kelly stopped short of every phrase in Mattis's statement but said the country should choose leaders more carefully and emphasized that officials must follow the Constitution. Trump responded by attacking both former generals.