Former White House chief of staff John Kelly said he is siding with former Secretary of Defense Gen. Jim Mattis, who said President Donald Trump doesn’t try to unite Americans.
During a Friday interview, Kelly told former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci that he agrees with the statements Mattis made earlier in the week that rip Trump's response to the George Floyd protests.
Mattis blasted Trump for his law and order approach to quelling anti-police brutality protests taking place across the country. People are protesting the death of Floyd, a black man, who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
"There is a concern, I think an awful big concern, that the partisanship has gotten out of hand, the tribal thing has gotten out of hand," Kelly said. "He's quite a man, Jim Mattis, and for him to do that tells you where he is relative to the concern he has for our country."
Mattis blasted Trump for dividing the country and said he lacks "mature leadership."
"I agree with him," Kelly said on Mattis' statements.
Kelly said the local police and National Guard troops can handle the protests.
"The idea you would unleash American active duty folks unless it's an extreme situation … the troops hate it," Kelly said. "They don't see it as their jobs. They don't want to be used in that way."
Kelly also said it is important to look at the character of people running for office.
"I think we need to look harder at who we elect," Kelly said. "I think we should look at people that are running for office and put them through the filter: What is their character like? What are their ethics?"
Kelly also noted that Trump did not fire Mattis. Trump has made claims that he fired Mattis.