Vance Calls Out John Kelly
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) recently took aim at retired General John Kelly, pushing back against Kelly’s claims that former President Trump embodies “fascist” tendencies. Speaking at a rally in Waterford, Michigan, Vance argued that Kelly, who served as Trump’s chief of staff before being dismissed, is simply voicing personal grievances rather than objective truths.
“Let’s be clear,” Vance stated. “John Kelly was fired by Donald Trump, and it’s evident he hasn’t moved on. Every time he makes an assertion about events in the White House, multiple people who were there have contradicted him, saying he’s distorting the truth.”
Vance highlighted that even Mike Pence’s former chief of staff has publicly dismissed Kelly’s claims as fabrications. “We need to ask ourselves: Do we trust a disgruntled former employee, or do we listen to the multiple eyewitnesses who dispute his version of events? I choose to believe the eyewitnesses,” Vance asserted.
Kelly’s critical remarks about Trump, including a statement in a recent interview where he described the former president’s actions as fitting a “general definition of fascist,” have sparked controversy. Trump, for his part, retaliated by labeling Kelly a “lowlife” and criticized his military leadership.
In a bold assertion, Vance speculated that Kelly’s comments might have been coordinated with Kamala Harris’s campaign, questioning why the media is focused on a former employee’s grievances instead of pressing issues affecting voters today. “Why aren’t we discussing the staggering rise in grocery prices under Harris’s leadership? Instead, we’re rehashing old conflicts from five years ago,” Vance exclaimed, rallying the crowd’s support.
The Ohio senator emphasized that Harris’s focus is misguided, arguing that her role in recent spending decisions has directly impacted the affordability of essential goods for Michigan residents. “We should be addressing the pressing challenges facing families, not dwelling on past controversies.”
In response, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) defended Kelly, framing his concerns as warnings about Trump’s potential return to power. DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd stated that those close to Trump understand the threat he poses to democratic values.
Vance’s remarks underscore a broader narrative within the Republican Party, emphasizing the need for unity and focusing on immediate voter concerns rather than past disputes, as they gear up for the upcoming election cycle.
