Recently, Donald Trump admired Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, praising him as “fantastic.” He lauded Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “brilliant” and deemed North Korea’s Kim Jong Un “an OK guy.” Most importantly, he remarked that Adolf Hilter “did some good things.”
According to multiple former senior advisers who spoke to CNN, this worldview could potentially lead to a massive shift in US foreign policy. This is if he were to secure a second term in the upcoming presidential election in November.
Trump’s Admiration for Autocrats
Retired Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, disclosed that Trump considered Putin and Kim Jong Un as “OK guys.” Moreover, he believed that the US had cornered North Korea. According to Kelly, Trump perceived the situation as if the US was provoking these leaders.
This perspective is reinforced by Trump’s recent effusive praise for Hungarian Prime Minister Orban during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Trump stated, “There’s nobody better, smarter, or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He’s the boss, and he’s a great leader, fantastic leader in Europe and around the world. They respect him.”
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Kelly and others’ insights in “The Return of Great Powers” shed more light on their concerns. They cautioned that leaders who consistently laud autocrats may be ill-suited to navigate potential clashes among major powers. Moreover, according to them, Trump’s admiration for such figures may arise from an envy of their power.
Dealing with “Big Guys” and Troubling Praise for Hilter
Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, stated, “He views himself as a big guy. He likes dealing with other big guys. And big guys like Erdogan in Turkey get to put people in jail, and you don’t have to ask anybody’s permission. He kind of likes that.” Kelly added, “He’s not a tough guy by any means but, in fact, quite the opposite. But that’s how he envisions himself.”
Reports suggest that Trump praised Adolf Hilter, the leader of Nazi Germany during World War II. According to an account by John Kelly, Trump said, “Well, but Hitler did some good things.” When asked to specify, Trump mentioned Hilter’s economic rebuilding efforts.
Kelly emphasized the atrocities committed by Hilter against his people and the world. Kelly recalled advising Trump, “Sir, you can never say anything good about the guy. Nothing.” Contrarily, Trump seemed to see Mussolini in a more favorable light, calling him a “great guy” in comparison.
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Holocaust Ignorance
Kelly expressed doubt about Trump’s alleged ignorance of the Holocaust and the loss of lives during World War II. He stated, “It’s pretty hard to believe he missed the Holocaust, though, and pretty hard to understand how he missed the 400,000 American Gls that died in the European theater.”
Kelly suggested that Trump’s praise for Hilter was based on economic policies. However, it extended to Hilter’s ability to command loyalty from senior Nazi officers. Trump reportedly lamented the challenge of maintaining loyalty within his staff. He contrasted it with what he perceived as Hilter’s successful control over his senior officers.
Loyalty and Putin Praise
John Kelly disclosed Trump’s misconceptions about the loyalty of German generals during the war. He said, “He truly believed, when he brought us generals in, that we would be loyal—that we would do anything he wanted us to do.”
When confronted with these allegations, Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, indirectly addressed the substance. However, Cheung dismissed Kelly and Bolton, calling them out for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Furthermore, he suggested they seek professional help.
Former advisers to Trump emphasized his consistent admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. John Bolton recounted an incident during the 2018 NATO summit where Trump said the meeting with Putin “may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?”
Bolton’s Critique and Kelly’s Theory on Dictator Praise
Bolton further commented on Trump’s statement: “There’s an answer to that question. Only one person. You. You are the only person who would think that.” Bolton also suggested that Trump’s admiration for Putin may be due to his desire to emulate Putin’s assertiveness and strength.
Kelly offered a theory on why Trump seemed to favor dictators. He said, “My theory on why he likes the dictators so much is that’s who he is.” According to Kelly, incoming presidents usually discover power limitations due to checks and balances. However, Kelly says he remains shocked by the comparison to leaders like Putin and Xi.
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