The retired Marine general who served as chief of staff from 2017 to 2019 told the British newspaper The Times, "Certainly the former president is in the far-right area, he's certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators - he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure."
In another interview with The New York Times, Kelly further said that Trump "certainly prefers a dictator-style approach to governing."
Kelly's remarks came just two weeks before next month's presidential election, adding to the growing list of warnings from Trump's former aides about his approach to the presidency and how he might exercise power if re-elected.
Kelly recounted instances where Trump praised the loyalty of Adolf Hitler's Nazi generals and expressed a desire for similar obedience from U.S. military leaders in interviews with American dailies like The New York Times and The Atlantic.
Vice President Kamala Harris quickly used his comments to alert voters to the potential threats Trump could pose to democratic values.
When asked whether she believed Trump is a fascist, Harris responded that he would be "a president who admires dictators" if elected again.
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