This week, The Atlantic released a damning article claiming that President Donald Trump (R) wants to fashion his administration on Adolf Hitler's regime. According to two sources that were not disclosed by the Atlantic, the former president is reported to have said, "I need the kind of generals that Hitler had." Finding the article "suspicious," Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) questions the "timing" of the article and questions the validity of its content.
Since he first ran in 2016, President Trump has presented himself as both the "law and order" candidate and as the candidate that will best support the United States military. A new Atlantic article begs to differ.
The article claims that President Trump expressed his disdain for the military after offering to help with the funeral costs of Vanessa Guillén. "Trump has frequently voiced his disdain for those who serve in the military and for their devotion to duty, honor, and sacrifice," the Atlantic article reads.
The article has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, and with two weeks to the 2024 presidential election, Republicans are now questioning the validity of the article and credibility of its claims.
Green Beret Rep. Mike Waltz: "I find the timing suspicious, and it is just completely divorced from the man that I've come to know in Donald Trump, and how he's dealt with Gold Star families... and don 't take it from me, take it from the 13 Abbey Gate Gold Star families..." pic.twitter.com/gPggZSk1IR
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 23, 2024
In an interview with CNN, Rep. Waltz called into question the Atlantic article. He similarly commented on a New York Times article citing that John Kelly, a former chief of staff for President Trump, believes that the former president could be seen as a textbook fascist.
“It doesn’t make sense to me," said Rep. Waltz of the Atlantic article. "I find the timing suspicious, and it is just completely divorced from the man that I’ve come to know in Donald Trump and how he’s dealt with Gold Star families, how he has been caring, and how he has been compassionate."
The Florida Republican shared that it's not just him who shares this sentiment. "Take it from the 13 Abbey Gate Gold Star families, some of whom stood on a stage in front of a 30,000 person crowd and said how he helped them heal," he added.
In reference to the New York Times article, Rep. Waltz also questioned the credibility of Kelly's claim. "You're saying he's praising Hitler, yet this is a president that has done more for Israel than any president in modern history," Rep. Waltz argued. In giving examples of what President Trump has done, Rep. Waltz explained that President Trump "moved the embassy, recognized recognized Golan Heights, signed the Abraham Peace Accords, not once, not twice, but three times on the White House lawn."
"We're seeing Jewish-Americans moving our way in the polling, moving his way in the polling," he noted.
