Trump appointed only the best
To the Editor:
It is exceedingly rare for members of a former president’s cabinet or inner circle of advisers not to support their boss for reelection. It is also highly unusual for members of the military to make political comments. Here are just a few of the comments by former appointees of President Trump .
Mike Pence served as President Trump’s Vice President — “Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years.”
Mark Esper served as U.S. Secretary of Defense for President Trump — Trump is not “fit for office because he puts himself first, and I think anybody running for office should put the country first.”
James ‘Jim’ Mattis, a retired four-star general who served as secretary of defense. He said of President Trump — “His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice.”
Mark Milley served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and said President Trump was a “wannabe dictator.” He added, “We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America—and we’re willing to die to protect it.”
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John Bolton, served as President Trump’s national security adviser and a frequent Fox News guest. He said there will be “celebrations in the Kremlin” if Trump is elected in November, adding: “Putin thinks that he is an easy mark.” Further, he said “Donald Trump wants Americans to treat him like North Koreans treat Kim Jong Un.”
John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general, served as President Trump’s secretary of Homeland Security and White House chief of staff. Of president Trump he said, “A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution and the rule of law.”
Kelly further said of President Trump, “A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POW’s are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.”
Asked about the prospect of a second Trump White House term, Kelly added: “God help us.”
Louise Vitale
Franklin
