John Kelly: Former White House Trump chief of staff supports the use of the 25th Amendment to oust the President

by

“Yes, I would,” Kelly told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” when asked if it would be supportive of introducing the change if he had a vote.

The comments from Kelly, who left the White House in a controversial position in January 2019, come as a growing list of Democratic and Republican members of Congress are calling for Trump to be ousted. the post either through impeachment or the 25th Amendment after a violent move of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

They also represent one of the strongest reactions Trump made from a former member of his White House amid the fallout from Wednesday’s riots. With the introduction of the 25th Amendment, Vice President Mike Pence and a majority of the cabinet had to vote to remove Trump from office because he was unable to “powers and responsibilities to fulfill his office ”- an unprecedented step.

“I think the cabinet should meet and have a debate. I don’t think it will happen, but I think the cabinet should meet and discuss this because the behavior is very what and in the previous weeks and months has been horrific from the President, “said Kelly, who has criticized Trump from time to time since leaving office.

“What happened on Capitol Hill yesterday is a direct result of poisoning people ‘s minds with lies and deception,” he said.

Kelly, who has generally maintained a low profile since leaving the White House, told Tapper he was “horrified” by the violent look.

“Just an incredible sight at the Capitol. In fact, the actions and words of the President did not surprise me at all, but I was very surprised that these people would invade the house of the people, doing the damage they did and embarrassing us all, “he said, referring to the pro – Trump movement.

Kelly also pushed back on comments made by his fan, Mick Mulvaney, who retired Wednesday from a diplomatic position he held in the administration, saying Trump is not the same as he was several months ago.

“I don’t think he’s changed just one small thing,” Kelly said when asked about the comments. “Of course, he’s angry because he’s lost an election. He’s a laughing stock now and he’s hitting it. But then again, you have to help, you know, manage. “

In addition to Mulvaney, several other officials have resigned from the administration in protest of Wednesday’s riots and Trump’s response to it, including Secretary of State Elaine Chao, one of Trump’s longest-serving members of the cabinet who officially leaves her post on Monday.

Trump’s deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger is also among those leaving the government, as is first-female chief of staff Stephanie Grisham, a White House press supporter and social secretary.

This story was updated with more from the interview.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Kaitlan Collins and Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report.

.Source