As the pivotal 2024 U.S. presidential election draws near, a bombshell accusation has emerged from an unlikely source – Donald Trump’s former right-hand man. In a series of coordinated interviews, John Kelly, the ex-Marine general who served as Trump’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, has claimed his former boss “falls into the general definition of fascist.”
Speaking to multiple media outlets, Kelly painted a disturbing picture of the former president, asserting Trump “prefers the dictator approach to government” and is the “only president that has all but rejected what America is all about.” The extraordinary intervention comes a mere two weeks before voters head to the polls in what is shaping up to be a contentious rematch between Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
Campaign Surrogates Trade Barbs
As the Kelly revelations reverberated across the political landscape, the Trump and Harris campaigns quickly mobilized their surrogates to control the narrative. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, dismissed Kelly’s accounts as “debunked stories,” claiming the former aide had “beclowned” himself.
Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz, meanwhile, seized on Kelly’s claim that Trump once expressed a desire for his military personnel to show him the same deference Nazi generals showed Adolf Hitler. “Folks, the guardrails are gone,” Walz declared at a rally in Wisconsin. “Trump is descending into this madness.”
Star Power Fuels Harris Campaign
As the Kelly controversy swirled, the Harris campaign sought to shift focus back to their core message with a series of high-profile appearances. Hip-hop icon Eminem introduced former President Barack Obama at a rally in Detroit, where Obama ridiculed Trump’s boasts on the economy and cast his rambling speeches as a sign of mental decline.
You’d be worried if Grandpa was acting like this, but this is coming from someone who wants unchecked power.
Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President
The star-studded events continued with rock legend Bruce Springsteen headlining concerts across key swing states in support of the Harris ticket. The campaign also confirmed Harris herself expressed confidence that America was ready for a female president in an interview with NBC News.
Candidates Court Hispanic Vote
With the race tightening, both campaigns renewed their outreach to Hispanic voters, a crucial voting bloc in several battleground states. Trump held a roundtable with Latino leaders at his Florida golf resort, though he took his time in addressing issues of importance to the community.
For her part, Harris pledged to drive more funds to community banks to help Latino men access small business loans in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. “Hispanic men often have more difficulty securing loans from banks because of their connections and the fact that things aren’t necessarily set up so that they will qualify,” she noted.
Controversies and Complaints
Even as they courted voters, the campaigns traded accusations and filed formal complaints. At events in Florida and North Carolina, Trump hurled personal insults at Harris, calling her “lazy as hell” and “low IQ” while questioning if she used drugs.
The Republican campaign also filed an extraordinary complaint claiming the UK Labour Party was interfering in the election by sending volunteers to campaign for Harris, a charge the Harris camp dismissed. Despite some legal setbacks, the GOP vowed to press ahead with efforts to block some Americans living abroad from voting in key states like North Carolina and Michigan.
Economic Outlook Favors U.S.
On the economic front, there was positive news for the eventual winner. The International Monetary Fund released a forecast showing the U.S. economy was poised for stronger growth than many other wealthy nations, though it warned that a shift towards “undesirable” trade policies could hamper the global recovery.
As the dizzying final weeks of the campaign unfold, one thing is certain – the eyes of the nation and the world will be fixed on this historic showdown. With each new revelation and controversy, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The question remains: which vision will America embrace on November 5th?
