With just over a week until the 2024 election, the political arena is heating up, and a recent comment by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has ignited a fiery debate. During an interview with The New York Times, Kelly described former President Donald Trump as meeting the “general definition of a fascist.” This assertion has drawn strong criticism from Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Trump.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Graham dismissed Kelly’s remarks as a sign of desperation for the Harris campaign. He argued that Kelly’s criticism is based on emotion rather than facts, and it’s unlikely to sway voters so close to the election. “Three weeks before the election, you’re calling basically Trump Hitler, a fascist, is not going to resonate,” Graham stated. “What happened to joy on the Democratic side? They went from joy to now Trump is Hitler. Well, that’s desperation.”
Graham urged Americans to consider Trump’s track record, highlighting his strong support for Israel, his efforts to secure the border, and his record on inflation. “I think General Kelly’s criticisms are not based on facts,” the senator asserted. “I think it’s emotional, it’s sad, and it’s not going to matter.”
This isn’t the first time retired military officials have voiced concerns about Trump. Graham also addressed criticism from retired four-star generals Mark Milley and Jim Mattis, both of whom served in the Trump administration. He attributed their comments to the desperation of the Harris campaign, stating, “That shows you how desperate this campaign is, you’ve got three retired generals who have been out of the game for a while, three weeks before the election and trying to replace joy with fear.”
Graham also clarified his stance on Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that he does not believe she is a fascist or a communist, despite the heated rhetoric surrounding the election. He asserted that he believes she is the most liberal candidate ever nominated by a major party, but he considers her ineffective and incompetent.
As the election draws closer, the war of words between the campaigns intensifies. With accusations flying and starkly different visions for the future of America being presented, voters will be scrutinizing the candidates’ records and messages more than ever before. This high-stakes election promises to be one for the history books.
