Over a dozen former White House staffers during the Trump administration have released a letter backing harsh criticism of his by former Chief of Staff John Kelly, who has told outlets that the Republican presidential nominee meets the definition of a fascist.
Signatories include former press secretary Stephanie Grisham, former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security Miles Taylor, and former national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence Olivia Troye, who has actively criticized Trump over the past months, including speaking against him at the Democratic National Convention.
"We applaud General Kelly for highlighting in stark details the danger of a second Trump term. Like General Kelly, we did not take the decision to come forward lightly," reads a passage of the letter. They go on to call themselves "lifelong Republicans," but say that "there are moments in history where it becomes necessary to put country over party." "This is one of those moments."
Kelly also told The New York Times that Trump praised Adolf Hitler on multiple occasions, while The Atlantic reported that the former president said he wished he had generals like Hitler. Trump rejected saying positive things about Hitler, including the generals statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris used the interview as a platform to also call Trump a fascist. During a CNN town hall on Tuesday, she responded affirmatively when asked, "Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist?"
"Yes, yes I do, and I also believe that the people who know him best on this subject should be trusted," Harris said.
Harris again invoked allegations of fascism against Trump when asked what she would say to voters critical of how the Biden administration has handled Israel's war in Gaza, who may be considering a third-party candidate.
"For many people who care about this issue, they also care about bringing down the price of groceries," she said, adding they "also care about our democracy and not having a president of the United States who admires dictators and is a fascist."
Concerns about a disregard for constitutional oaths were referenced by Harris during a discussion of notable Republicans demonstrating open support for the Harris campaign.
"The reason why, among them, is a legitimate fear... that he will not obey an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," she said of Trump.
"I think one has to think about, why would someone who's served with him, who is not political... why is he telling the American people now," Harris said. "He's just putting out a 9-1-1 call to the American people. Understand what will happen if Donald Trump is back in the White House."
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