Ex-chief of staff John Kelly told friends that Trump's dishonesty is 'astounding' and 'pathetic', report claims
‘He is the most flawed person I have ever met in my life,’ former chief of staff reportedly said
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former White House chief of staff, retired Marine general John Kelly, told friends that Donald Trump’s “dishonesty” is “astounding” and “pathetic”, a report has said.
"The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me,” the retired Marine general told friends, according to a report by CNN.
“The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it's more pathetic than anything else. He is the most flawed person I have ever met in my life," he allegedly said.
Speculation long surrounded the president’s strained relationship with Mr Kelly while he was in office. The chief of staff left the White House at the beginning of 2019.
The damning comments feature in reporting for a new CNN special scheduled to air on Sunday: The Insiders: A Warning from Former Trump Officials, the broadcaster announced.
Former national security adviser John Bolton, former Health and Human Services scientist Rick Bright and former Department of Homeland Security general counsel John Mitnick are said to all feature in the report to explain why they think the president is unfit for office, CNN reported.
Other former members of the Trump administration who appear in the report have shared similar opinions in regard to the president's character in the run-up to the election.
Elizabeth Neumann, another former Department of Home Security official, criticised Mr Trump for his continued avoidance of condemnation of white supremacy.
"The fact that he continues to not be able to just point-blank say, 'I condemn White supremacy.' It boggles the mind," she told CNN in September.
Former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff under former secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Miles Taylor, endorsed Joe Biden in August in a damning video produced by a Republican group against the president.
Mr Trump said in February that Mr Kelly was “way over his head” in the chief of staff position.
"When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn't do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head," the president tweeted.
"Being chief of staff just wasn't for him. He came in with a bang, went out with a whimper, but like so many X's, he misses the action & just can't keep his mouth shut."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments