LGBTQ news and entertainment
John Kelly, the former Marine general who was Donald Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, says he believes Trump meets the definition of a fascist. Disturbed by Trump’s recent comments about using the U.S. military against his political opponents, Kelly gave three on-the-record interviews to a New York Times reporter regarding the Donald’s character. Continue reading “John Kelly: Trump Would Rule Like A Dictator”
Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (screen capture)
“The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me. The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it’s more pathetic than anything else. He is the most flawed person I have ever met in my life,” the retired Marine general has told friends, CNN has learned.
The reporting comes from a new CNN special to air Sunday night, “The Insiders: A Warning from Former Trump Officials,” in which former senior administration officials — including former national security adviser John Bolton, former Health and Human Services scientist Rick Bright and former Department of Homeland Security general counsel John Mitnick — explain why they think the President is unfit for office.
Kelly’s sentiments about the President’s transactional nature and dishonesty have been shared by other former members of the Trump administration who also appear in the special.
Olivia Troye, a former top adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, has said the President knew about the impact the coronavirus pandemic would have on the US by mid-February, but that “he didn’t want to hear it, because his biggest concern was that we were in an election year.”
Miles Taylor, a former DHS chief of staff who now serves as a CNN contributor, has asserted Trump essentially calls individuals within the federal government who disagree with him “deep state.”
DJ Thiago Oliveira (via Instagram)
• Washington Post: Donald Trump’s former chief of staff John F. Kelly defended former defense secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday over Mattis’s criticism of the president’s handling of nationwide protests. Kelly also dismissed Trump’s assertion that the president fired the retired general in 2018. “The president did not fire him. He did not ask for his resignation. The president has clearly forgotten how it actually happened or is confused.” • Out: Following fellow gay dating app Grindr, Jack’d and Scruff have announced they will disable their ethnicity filters in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. “We stand in solidarity with the fight against systemic racism and historic oppression of the Black community.” • Lincoln Project: The conservative anti-Trump PAC drops this new campaign ad writing, “Trump is no longer hiding that he’s a brazen authoritarian, so desiring of control and power that he’s willing to turn our once peaceful cities into #warzones.
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| Soon-to-be former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly |
I guess it’s official – White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is out (very soon).
From The Washington Post:
At the South Lawn on Saturday, President Trump said he’ll announce Kelly’s replacement in the next day or so. Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, has been the president’s top aide since late July 2017 and has had a rocky tenure.
Trump has chafed at Kelly’s management style and resisted some of his moves to instill discipline in the West Wing and contain chaos. In recent months, the chief of staff’s power has ebbed, and administration policies and decisions have been guided more by the president’s gut instincts than by Kelly’s processes.
Trump is widely expected to poach Vice President Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff, Nick Ayres, to replace.
As expected, White House chief of staff John Kelly – the retired four-star Marine Corps general – will leave his job by ther end of the year; President didn’t announce a replacement, though 36-year old Nick Ayres, the chief of staff for VP Pence, is said to be the front-runner— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 8, 2018
Among the many takeaways from Kelly not lasting to the 2020 timeline his allies leaked out: Trump’s family is going to outlast everyone else who comes through there https://t.co/u9YmYnvTya— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 8, 2018
Politico’s @dlippman on reports Chief of Staff John Kelly is heading for the exits after a souring relationship with Trump: “It’s kind of a reminder of what people have told me: Working for the President almost never leads to good things for you.” pic.twitter.com/XeQJOoaYPW— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) December 8, 2018
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| Hubby Michael (C) turns 50! Whoohoo! |
Some news items you might have missed:
• My apologies, dear readers, for the light posting of late. Currently in Mexico celebrating my hubby’s 50th birthday 🙂
• A new study shows young black men are 16 times more likely to contract HIV than their young white gay peers.
• Woofy luger Chris Mazdzer’s ‘ice underwear tease’ is totally worth the clicking over to kenneth-in-the-212 for.
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| Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer |
• Choreographer Justin Peck worked with A-list actors like Julia Roberts to create a series of short dance films that turn everyday experience into moments of musical magic.
• Chief of staff John Kelly is expected to step down in the coming days, according to two administration officials says Politico.
• First trailer for Avengers: Endgame is here. “Part of the journey is the end.”
Over 42 million views in a day.
• Meanwhile, back at Mantamar Beach Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and my hubby’s 50th celebration – it’s a virtual gay soup.
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| Donald Trump |
Earlier today I shared that NBC News had spoken to several folks in the White House that say Chief of Staff John Kelly has referred to Donald Trump as an “idiot” on several occasions and could depart his position as soon as July.
As the story began to dominate the evening news, the Trumpster was clearly disturbed that anyone might view his administration (where people quit or are fired on a weekly basis) as anything but “smooth.”
Calling the story “unhinged,” Trump got in a swipe at the ongoing investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller (“witch hunt”) while bragging about “great Energy and unending Stamina.”
Classic Trump.
And hey – it’s just Monday!
The Fake News is going crazy making up false stories and using only unnamed sources (who don’t exist). They are totally unhinged, and the great success of this Administration is making them do and say things that even they can’t believe they are saying. Truly bad people!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
The White House is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc. There is great Energy and unending Stamina, both necessary to get things done. We are accomplishing the unthinkable and setting positive records while doing so! Fake News is going “bonkers!”— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
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| Chief of Staff John Kelly |
NBC News reports that Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff, John Kelly, have grown tired of each other and Kelly could make his exit from the White House as early as July.
White House chief of staff John Kelly has eroded morale in the West Wing in recent months with comments to aides that include insulting the president’s intelligence and casting himself as the savior of the country, according to eight current and former White House officials.
The officials said Kelly portrays himself to Trump administration aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe, curbing the erratic urges of a president who has a questionable grasp on policy issues and the functions of government. He has referred to Trump as “an idiot” multiple times to underscore his point, according to four officials who say they’ve witnessed the comments.
Three White House spokespeople said they don’t believe it’s accurate that Kelly called the president an “idiot,” adding that none of them has ever heard him do that or otherwise use that word.
The last time it became public that one of Trump’s top advisers insulted his intelligence behind his back, it didn’t go over well with the president. White House aides have said Trump never got over former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calling him a “moron” in front of colleagues, which was first reported by NBC News. Trump later challenged Tillerson to an IQ test and fired him several months after the remark became public.
Kelly, a retired four-star general, is Trump’s second chief of staff.
Former RNC head Reince Priebus previously held the position. His tenure was the shortest of any non-interim Chief of Staff in American history.
UPDATE – But wait, there’s more:
New: WH Chief of Staff John Kelly referred to the President as “unhinged” during meeting with Def Secretary Mattis, Jt Chiefs Chairman Dunford & other senior NSC officials – Sr. Admin. Official tells CNN— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 30, 2018
UPDATE II – Kelly has released a statement denying the report by NBC News.
The statement reads, in part, “I spend more time with the President than anyone else and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship. He always knows where I stand and he and I both know this story is total BS.”
Well, the news is not getting any better for the White House today.
In the aftermath of today’s revelation that the FBI informed the White House months ago that there were serious domestic abuse reports regarding former staff secretary Rob Porter, now comes word that he was in the process of being considered for a promotion even in light of his ex-wives’ testimony of physical abuse.
From CNN:
His anticipated elevation further highlights how top White House officials were willing to overlook indications from the FBI that there were potential abuse allegations in his background in exchange for professional competence in a tumultuous West Wing.
Porter had been actively lobbying to take on new policy portfolios outside the traditional scope of the staff secretary, one person familiar with the matter said, which included speechwriting duties and a role in planning policy rollouts. Neither of those tasks is traditionally carried out by the staff secretary.
One of the areas Porter was set to delve further into was trade policy, according to the person. Porter was a regular attendee at a weekly trade meeting among top-level administration officials.He was also being considered for the deputy chief of staff position, another source familiar with the situation said. CNN reported Friday that Jim Carroll, who served as the deputy chief of staff for less than three months, was stepping down to helm the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
So, we know Chief of Staff John Kelly knew of the abuse allegations in January. But even so, Kelly would have promoted Porter if the press hadn’t reported on his ex-wives’ reports of abuse???
You can watch the video report on CNN here.
CNN: Rob Porter was in talks to be promoted when abuse allegations against him surfaced.TRANSLATION: When Trump is “elected” despite being accused of assaulting 19+ women and conspiring with Russia overlooking domestic violence is just “par for the course” for this White House.
— Ryan Knight, PROUD RESISTER 👊 (@ProudResister) February 13, 2018
Not surprised Jared Kushner pushed for Rob Porter to be elevated, since Kushner also has massive security clearance issues.But a 4 star Marine should know better. Under Kelly’s watch, the White House has made a mockery of the security clearance process. Kelly needs to resign. https://t.co/7xMThXqbjv
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 13, 2018
WH right now acting as if it has had one coherent message and plan following revelations of Rob Porter’s two ex-wives accusing him domestic abuse. That’s just demonstrably false. Initial responses were to support Porter full throatedly.— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 12, 2018
Yesterday, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly asserted that Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) boasted about raising money during an FBI dedication ceremony in 2015.
Wilson denied Kelly’s claim saying she wasn’t even in Congress when the funds to build the new FBI building in question were appropriated.
Well, of course, someone was going to find that footage of Wilson’s speech. And nowhere does she take credit for raising the funds to build the new FBI building. She does take credit for having the building named after two FBI agents.
And, she spends a big part of her speech praising the FBI and our law enforcement officials.
I can’t embed the video, but you can see it over on South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel website here.
At the White House press briefing today, members of the press asked press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about the video which showed Kelly was inaccurate with his portrayal of Wilson’s speech.
Sanders told reporters that it is “highly inappropriate” to “go after” a four-star Marine general.
I have tremendous respect for the military but the notion that no one can even question the statements of generals is un-American.— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 20, 2017
Sanders seems to suggest it’s inappropriate to question Kelly’s story — even though we have a video that indicates his account was false.— Matthew Nussbaum (@MatthewNussbaum) October 20, 2017
Since Ms. Sanders thinks it’s “highly inappropriate” to question or “go after” a military general, I wonder what she thinks of her boss, Donald Trump, “going after” these generals.
General John Allen, who I never met but spoke against me last night, failed badly in his fight against ISIS. His record = BAD #NeverHillary— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
How can General Martin Dempsey tell Obama that delaying the Syria bombardment will have no consequences? He is no Patton or MacArthur.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2013
I was never a fan of Colin Powell after his weak understanding of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq = disaster. We can do much better!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2016
Sanders: "Highly inappropriate" to question a four-star general.
Trump in 2016: "I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me." pic.twitter.com/j65NKYVjAi— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 20, 2017
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| White House Chief of Staff John Kelly |
This week, Donald Trump has been coping with yet another mess totally of his own making.
When asked about the four soldiers who were killed in action in Niger on October 4, Trump awkwardly segued in his response to noting that while he himself had contacted “every” family of fallen soldiers during his time in office, President Obama (and others before him) didn’t call the families of fallen soldiers.
Apart from being inaccurate, it opened a whole Pandora’s box of trouble for himself as the media has now found several gold star families who haven’t heard from Trump.
And then, in making a call to one of the fallen Niger soldiers, Sgt. La David Johnson, he apparently said during the conversation, “He knew what he signed up for.”
The wife of Johnson and Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson confirmed this telling the media it came across uncaring and disrespectful.
Just to be clear, Trump tweeted yesterday that Congresswoman Wilson “totally fabricated” her account of what she says she heard the president say.
Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2017
Now, “totally fabricated” would mean to me that not a single word was accurate.
But today, Chief of Staff John Kelly, a former Marine General whose own son was killed in action, took to the podium at the White House briefing and admitted he coached Trump using words that sound very much like what Wilson recalled Trump of saying.
From CNN:
White House chief of staff John Kelly, in an extraordinary and at times emotional statement Thursday, said he advised President Donald Trump on what to say before he called the families of the four fallen soldiers who died during an ambush in Niger. Kelly said from the White House briefing room that he advised Trump to offer similar words that Gen. Joseph Dunford offered to Kelly when his son was killed in Afghanistan.
“He was doing exactly what he wanted to do when he was killed. He knew what he was getting into by joining that 1%. He knew what the possibilities were because we were at war,” Kelly said, channeling Dunford’s words to him upon the death of Kelly’s son. “And when he died he was surrounded by the best men on this earth, his friends. That’s what the President tried to say to the four families the other day.”
“He knew what he was getting into by joining that 1%.”
“He knew what he signed up for.”
They sound a whole lot alike, no?
“Totally fabricated” is hardly the way I’d describe that.
I don’t think Trump is evil – I think the problem is that Trump doesn’t connect on this kind of a personal, intimate level. He took in what he heard Kelly say, but didn’t know how to convey the empathy of the moment.
Watch Kelly explain, and verify Wilson’s account, below.