Liberals attacked White House chief of staff John Kelly after he explained President Donald Trump's phone calls with the families of fallen soldiers at Thursday's White House press briefing.
Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, gave his remarks after Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson (Fla.) reported details of the president's conversation with the family of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of the Army Special Forces who was killed in Niger earlier this month. Wilson criticized the president's phone call, saying Trump is a liar and covering something up.
The retired general, whose son was killed seven years ago in Afghanistan, defended Trump's phone call and called out Wilson for politicizing the situation.
"It stuns me that a member of Congress would have listened in on that conversation — absolutely stuns me," Kelly said. "And we were stunned — stunned that she’d done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned."
Wilson blasted the COS's comments following the press conference, and said he was "trying to keep his job" in the White House. She also said the term "empty barrel," used by Kelly in reference to Wilson, is racist.
Some liberals backed up Wilson and took to social media to express their anger at Kelly for his comments.
Hillary Clinton's former press secretary Brian Fallon said the retired Marine is a believer in Trump and told followers to not be "distracted by the uniform."
Kelly isnt just an enabler of Trump. He's a believer in him. That makes him as odious as the rest. Dont be distracted by the uniform.
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 19, 2017
Before Kelly was Chief of Staff, he was the DHS secretary defending Trump's travel ban and overseeing mass deportations.
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 19, 2017
Planned Parenthood claimed Kelly's comments were part of a pattern of the Trump administration attacking and undermining black women.
This is part of a pattern of Trump admin attacking & undermining Black women. It’s despicable. We stand with @RepWilson & all Black women. https://t.co/5C3YYtpkLK
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) October 19, 2017
MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell said Kelly invents lies to attack and insult women.
Kelly is a better fit for Trump than media thought. He too invents lies to attack and insult women. https://t.co/nDh3Sugoun
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) October 20, 2017
Fellow MSNBC anchor Joy Reid defended O'Donnell by implying Kelly is racist.
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/921242614904504321
Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile also supported O'Donnell's analysis, and said the retired general made "callous attacks" against Wilson.
.@Lawrence is breaking down White House COS Kelly’s callous attacks on @RepWilson.
— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) October 20, 2017
Democratic candidate for Florida's 18th Congressional District Pam Keith referred to Kelly as a "toady."
5)Called the reporting of the incident fake news, 6) sent out a toady to cover for him, 7) said spokesman confirms that Trump lied,
— Pam Keith, Esq. (@PamKeithFL) October 20, 2017
Others blasted the COS as a hack and charged him with being a racist.
john kelly - an empty barrel
shame on his racist Irish white ass https://t.co/yK3CypD9xb— ROSIE (@Rosie) October 20, 2017
For the blinded media: There’s a reason John Kelly works for Trump: He’s a Trumpian, & a hack. Disabuse notion he’s some sort of protector.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) October 20, 2017
Lost in the storm of Kelly’s attacks today was a sobering reality. The rhetorical and conceptual spine of his remarks were a paean to MAGA.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 20, 2017
John Kelly isn't going to save us. https://t.co/EhvTWsShL8
— Tom Bonier (@tbonier) October 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/921322580673548288
John Kelly lied today about @RepWilson and a FBI building in 2015. He owes her an apology. Not written. Verbal. From the podium.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) October 20, 2017
John Kelly is just as bad as Trump and if there is a hell he can burn in it along with the rest of them
— Jeremy Wein (@thismyshow) October 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/PaulGoebelShow/status/921244781010755585