Thursday, August 11, 2022
Political Mayhem Thursday: A General's Election
According to the New York Times, President Trump told his then-Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, "Why can't you be more like the German generals?" referring to Hitler's Nazi military leaders, who Trump described as "totally loyal."
While the Generals around Trump often showed fealty (I'll never forget Gen. Mark Milley, in uniform, accompanying Trump on his walk to St. John's church to rant and hold a Bible upside-down), they also worked behind the scenes to sometimes undercut some of his very worst instincts. It's not a good thing when that is the line of defense for democracy, because civilian control over the military-- rather than the opposite-- is what keeps us from military coups.
To his credit, Kelly explained to Trump that Hitler's generals tried to kill him three times.
