Former President Donald Trump wanted military commanders who demonstrated the same personal loyalty to him that he believed Adolf Hitler received from his generals, according to retired Marine Corps General John Kelly, Trump's former White House chief of staff.
In a report published Tuesday by The Atlantic, Kelly confirmed that Trump had repeatedly expressed frustration with American military leaders who placed constitutional obligations above his personal demands.
The revelations come just two weeks before the presidential election and raise questions about Trump's understanding of military authority, presidential power, and the constitutional responsibilities of America's armed forces.
'Hitler's Generals'
According to The Atlantic, Trump once declared during a private White House conversation that he wanted generals like those who served Hitler.
"I need the kind of generals that Hitler had," Trump reportedly said.
The remark was attributed to two people who heard it.
Kelly separately confirmed another conversation in which Trump expressed a desire for German generals who would follow his orders.
Kelly recalled asking Trump whether he was referring to Hitler's generals.
According to Kelly, Trump confirmed that he was.
The former president apparently believed Hitler's military commanders demonstrated unquestioning personal loyalty, despite the historical reality that some German officers participated in plots to assassinate the Nazi dictator.
Kelly's account reinforces earlier reporting by journalists Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, who described similar exchanges in their book The Divider.
A Four-Star Marine General Speaks Out
Kelly is not an outside political commentator.
He is a retired four-star United States Marine Corps general who served for more than four decades in uniform, including as commander of U.S. Southern Command.
He served as Trump's secretary of homeland security before becoming White House chief of staff in July 2017, remaining in that position until January 2019.
Few people had greater access to Trump's daily decision-making or more direct experience with his approach to military leadership.
Kelly's comments carry particular significance because they come from a former senior military commander who worked directly for Trump.
His account describes a president who expected military officers to demonstrate loyalty to him personally rather than exercise independent judgment under the Constitution.
Military Officers Swear an Oath to the Constitution
American military officers do not swear personal loyalty to the president.
Their oath requires them to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The president serves as commander in chief, but military personnel remain bound by federal law and the obligation to follow lawful orders.
That distinction is central to Kelly's concerns.
According to accounts from former administration officials, Trump frequently became frustrated when senior military leaders resisted actions they considered inappropriate or unlawful.
The Atlantic's reporting describes Trump's interest in the degree of control authoritarian rulers exercise over their armed forces.
Kelly's recollections suggest Trump viewed such personal obedience as desirable rather than recognizing the constitutional limits governing American military service.
Kelly Raises Concerns About Fascism
In separate interviews with The New York Times published Tuesday, Kelly also expressed concern about Trump's authoritarian tendencies.
The retired general said Trump fits the general definition of a fascist, citing his admiration for dictators, authoritarian leadership, and the concentration of power in one individual.
That characterization represents Kelly's assessment of his former boss, not a legal finding.
Kelly also alleged that Trump had made favorable remarks about Hitler on multiple occasions, including suggesting that the Nazi dictator had accomplished some good things.
Kelly said he challenged those remarks.
Trump's campaign rejected the former chief of staff's allegations, with spokesman Steven Cheung disputing Kelly's account.
A Pattern of Disputes With Military Leaders
Kelly is not the only senior military official from Trump's administration to raise concerns about his conduct.
Retired General Mark Milley, Trump's former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also expressed serious concerns about the former president's authoritarian tendencies.
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis, another retired Marine general, publicly criticized Trump's leadership in 2020, accusing him of attempting to divide Americans.
These criticisms are notable because they