No, John Kelly repeating media talking points on a fake Trump story isn’t confirmation.
Trump’s Former Chief of Staff Responds to Controversial Claims
In an exclusive statement published by CNN, John Kelly, the longest-serving White House chief of staff under Donald Trump, has addressed the allegations made by The Atlantic three years ago. The media seems determined to run a similar campaign as they did in 2020.
The Atlantic’s story, based on anonymous sources, claimed that Trump insulted the graves of World War I veterans during a visit to France. According to The Atlantic, the president canceled the visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery because of his hair. However, a closer look reveals a different story.
Despite claims from various news outlets that Kelly confirmed the stories, his statement to CNN’s Jake Tapper suggests otherwise. Kelly prefaced his statement by saying, “What can I add that has not already been said?” before mentioning the alleged incident at Aisne-Marne. This is not a confirmation, but a retelling.
The Atlantic’s article, which lacked any on-the-record sources, stated that Trump’s decision to cancel the visit was due to his concern about his hair and a belief that honoring American war dead was unimportant. However, Mollie Hemingway, Editor-in-Chief of The Federalist, debunked these claims in her book on the 2020 election.
Even John Bolton, who served as Trump’s National Security Adviser during the trip, disputed The Atlantic’s account. Bolton explained that the decision to cancel the visit was based on safety concerns and the risk of not being able to evacuate the President quickly in case of an emergency.
“Marine One’s crew was saying that bad visibility could make it imprudent to chopper to the cemetery. The ceiling was not too low for Marines to fly in combat, but flying POTUS was obviously something very different. If a motorcade was necessary, it could take between ninety and a hundred and twenty minutes each way, along roads that were not exactly freeways, posing an unacceptable risk that we could not get the President out of France quickly enough in case of an emergency. It was a straightforward decision to cancel the visit but very hard for a Marine like Kelly to recommend, having originally been the one to suggest Belleau Wood… Trump agreed, and it was decided that others would drive to the cemetery instead.”
The Atlantic also alleged that Trump made derogatory comments about deceased Senator John McCain. However, Kelly’s statement is the only on-the-record source supporting these claims, leading some to speculate that Kelly may have been the source of the allegations in the first place.
While The Atlantic’s story now has one anti-Trump source on record, nearly two dozen officials from the Trump White House have reportedly called the article false. Considering Trump’s frequent visits with military service members and memorial sites throughout his presidency, the claims made by The Atlantic defy common sense.
According to Kelly, what was the main factor behind the cancellation of the visit?
Unks this claim in her article. Hemingway points out that Trump’s concern about his hair was not the reason for canceling the visit, but rather it was due to inclement weather conditions that posed a threat to the safety of the presidential helicopter.
Kelly echoes Hemingway’s statement in his response to the controversy. He mentions that the decision to cancel the visit was made due to the poor weather conditions, and it had nothing to do with concerns about Trump’s hair or a lack of respect for fallen soldiers. Kelly emphasizes that the safety of the president and his staff is always a top priority, and the cancellation was a necessary precaution.
Furthermore, Kelly highlights the irony of the accusations made against Trump, stating that he attended multiple events to honor American war dead during his presidency, including visits to Arlington National Cemetery and participating in Memorial Day ceremonies. Kelly asserts that Trump has shown great respect and reverence for the sacrifices made by American soldiers.
It is important to note that The Atlantic’s article was published based on anonymous sources, which raises questions about its credibility. In contrast, Kelly, who served as Trump’s chief of staff and was present during the alleged incident, provides a firsthand account and refutes the claims made by The Atlantic.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s alleged remarks at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery highlights the media’s tendency to rely on anonymous sources and pursue sensational headlines. While the media plays a vital role in holding public figures accountable, it is crucial for journalists to verify information and present a balanced perspective.
In conclusion, John Kelly’s response to the controversial claims made by The Atlantic sheds new light on the situation. His firsthand account challenges the narrative presented by the media and emphasizes the importance of verifying information before drawing conclusions. The controversy serves as a reminder for both journalists and readers to exercise critical thinking and question the credibility of anonymous sources.
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