Another retired 4-star general slams Trump, but this one wouldn't work for him
Retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal called President Trump dishonest and immoral in an interview with ABC News' Martha Raddatz broadcast Sunday. He asked Americans to consider why someone as "selfless and committed" as outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis, a fellow four-star general, would resign "in a public way like that," with a rebuke of Trump. And McChrystal, once floated by Trump as a running mate, shut down any notion he might be willing to replace Mattis. "I think it's important for me to work for people who I think are basically honest, who tell the truth as best they know it," he said. "You think he's a liar?" Raddatz asked. "I don't think he tells the truth," McChrystal said. "Is Trump immoral, in your view?" Raddatz asked. "I think he is," McChrystal replied.
McChyrstal said he'd never tell any Trump supporters "they are wrong," but he asked every American to "stand in front of that mirror" and consider whether we really "want to be governed by someone we wouldn't do a business deal with because their background is so shady." Maggie Haberman at The New York Times notes that McChrystal's comments overlapped with milder criticism from outgoing Chief of Staff John Kelly, another retired four-star general:
McChrystal — who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan before President Barack Obama reluctantly relieved him of duty in 2010 for criticizing White House officials to Rolling Stone — also offered some critiques of Trump's war strategy. You can watch more at ABC News.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Political cartoons for December 14Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a new White House flag, Venezuela negotiations, and more
-
Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
-
Facial recognition: a revolution in policingTalking Point All 43 police forces in England and Wales are set to be granted access, with those against calling for increasing safeguards on the technology
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
-
Abrego García freed from jail on judge’s orderSpeed Read The wrongfully deported man has been released from an ICE detention center
-
Indiana Senate rejects Trump’s gerrymander pushSpeed Read The proposed gerrymander would have likely flipped the state’s two Democratic-held US House seats
-
Democrat files to impeach RFK Jr.Speed Read Rep. Haley Stevens filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
-
$1M ‘Trump Gold Card’ goes live amid travel rule furorSpeed Read The new gold card visa offers an expedited path to citizenship in exchange for $1 million
-
US seizes oil tanker off VenezuelaSpeed Read The seizure was a significant escalation in the pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
-
Judge orders release of Ghislaine Maxwell recordsSpeed Read The grand jury records from the 2019 prosecution of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will be made public
-
Miami elects first Democratic mayor in 28 yearsSpeed Read Eileen Higgins, Miami’s first woman mayor, focused on affordability and Trump’s immigration crackdown in her campaign
