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.
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Codeword: December 6, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Sudoku hard: December 6, 2025The daily hard sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
-
GOP wins tight House race in red Tennessee districtSpeed Read Republicans maintained their advantage in the House
-
Trump targets ‘garbage’ Somalis ahead of ICE raidsSpeed Read The Department of Homeland Security will launch an immigration operation targeting Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
