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Trump Attacks Former White House Chief of Staff Kelly

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump assailed his former White
   House chief of staff, John Kelly, on Thursday after Kelly defended the
   National Security Council aide ousted by Trump after he testified
   against the president during the impeachment investigation.

   Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who served as Trump's top White
   House aide for 17 months until early last year, voiced support for Army
   Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman at a university speech Wednesday night in
   New Jersey, while also raising objections to several Trump policies and
   actions.

   "When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn't do fast enough, he knew
   full well that he was way over his head," Trump contended in a Twitter
   comment.

   "Being Chief of Staff just wasn't for him," Trump claimed. "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, which he actually has a
   military and legal obligation to do. His incredible wife, Karen, who I
   have a lot of respect for, once pulled me aside & said strongly that
   'John respects you greatly. When we are no longer here, he will only
   speak well of you.' Wrong!"

     ....which he actually has a military and legal obligation to do. His
     incredible wife, Karen, who I have a lot of respect for, once pulled
     me aside & said strongly that "John respects you greatly. When we
     are no longer here, he will only speak well of you." Wrong!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]February 13, 2020

   Kelly said that Vindman, as a military officer, "did exactly what we
   teach them to do from cradle to grave. He went and told his boss what
   he just heard."

   Vindman expressed concern to his superiors last year after Trump asked
   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to "do us a favor," to launch
   an investigation of one of Trump's chief 2020 Democratic rivals, former
   Vice President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden's work for a
   Ukrainian natural gas company.

   Then, Vindman late last year was a key witness against Trump as
   Democrats in the House of Representatives moved to impeach Trump,
   although the president was acquitted last week after a Senate trial.

   "We teach them: Don't follow an illegal order," Kelly said of Vindman.
   "And if you're ever given one, you'll raise it to whoever gives it to
   you that this is an illegal order, and then tell your boss."

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1227986937652350976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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