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13 Former Trump Officials Warn of ‘Absolute, Unchecked Power’ in Open Letter


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Thirteen former Trump administration officials issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of a second Trump presidency in an open letter on Friday. The group, comprising lifelong Republicans and previous high-ranking members of Trump’s administration, rallied behind John F. Kelly’s recent statements in which he suggested that Donald Trump’s leadership style could resemble a dictatorship if he returns to office. Kelly, a retired Marine general and Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, recently shared with The New York Times that Trump had occasionally expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and had questioned the loyalty of U.S. generals.

 

“For the good of our country, our democracy, and our Constitution, we are asking you to listen closely and carefully to General Kelly’s warning,” the former officials wrote. Although they expressed shock at Kelly’s statements, they noted they were “not surprised.” They recalled Trump’s past actions and rhetoric, which they believe point to his “desire for absolute, unchecked power.” While the letter did not specifically claim that any of the signatories directly heard Trump speak favorably about Hitler, it emphasized that they had all “witnessed, up close and personal, how Donald Trump operates and what he is capable of.”

 

The letter underscored the group’s shared view that the American people deserve a leader who would prioritize public interest over personal power. “The American people deserve a leader who won’t threaten to turn armed troops against them, won’t put his quest for power above their needs, and doesn’t idealize the likes of Adolf Hitler,” they asserted. This warning comes amid Trump’s increasingly combative rhetoric; he has described Democrats as “the enemy from within” and has suggested that the National Guard may need to be deployed to address potential internal threats if he wins office again.

 

Signatories of the letter included notable figures such as Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House press secretary; Olivia Troye, an adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence; and Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as communications director. Alyssa Farah Griffin, previously Pence’s press secretary; Sarah Matthews, a former deputy White House press secretary; and three former Homeland Security Department officials, including Kevin Carroll, Elizabeth Neumann, and Sofia Kinzinger, also lent their voices to the letter. The group’s appeal reflects deep concerns over what they describe as Trump’s “disdain for the American military” and his perceived affinity for authoritarianism.

 

The letter’s release was organized shortly after Kelly’s comments appeared in *The New York Times* earlier in the week. According to Kelly, Trump’s understanding of history was limited, and he had tried to explain the troubling implications of speaking positively about Hitler. Still, Trump reportedly continued to make occasional remarks suggesting Hitler’s achievements. The former aides’ letter echoed Kelly’s sentiments, reinforcing the belief that Trump’s return to office would be characterized by a leadership style placing his personal power over democratic principles.

 

The Trump campaign has not responded to the letter or Kelly’s remarks, leaving unanswered questions about the former president’s stance on the allegations raised by his former allies.

 

Based on a report from the NYT 2024-10-28

 

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