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.
-
Blue Origin launches Mars probes in NASA debutSpeed Read The New Glenn rocket is carrying small twin spacecraft toward Mars as part of NASA’s Escapade mission
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
-
GOP retreats from shutdown deal payout provisionSpeed Read Senators are distancing themselves from a controversial provision in the new government funding package
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
-
GOP retreats from shutdown deal payout provisionSpeed Read Senators are distancing themselves from a controversial provision in the new government funding package
-
Catholic bishops rebuke Trump on immigrationSpeed Read ‘We feel compelled’ to ‘raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity,’ the bishops said
-
House releases Epstein emails referencing TrumpSpeed Read The emails suggest Trump knew more about Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage women than he has claimed
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
-
Trump pardons 2020 fake electors, other GOP alliesSpeed Read The president pardoned Rudy Giuliani and more who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss
-
Supreme Court to decide on mail-in ballot limitsSpeed Read The court will determine whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day
