Seeing a man get emotional can be difficult to watch – but when it’s a highly-respected General-turned-White House Chief of Staff? It’s nothing short of stunning. That’s what happened yesterday as General John Kelly stepped to the podium to greet the White House Press Corps.
During a briefing, Kelly said he was absolutely stunned when he learned that Congresswoman Frederica Wilson listened-in on the conversation the President has with the Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson. He also slammed the congresswoman for criticizing President Trump's phone call. In fact, Kelly called the criticism “heartbreaking” and said he was so upset that he took a long walk at Arlington National Cemetery to reflect on the sacrifices of those in uniform.
Meantime, Kelly said all presidents send letters and some telephone the families of fallen soldiers. As for the General himself, who lost a son in Afghanistan, he noted that he didn’t receive a phone call from former President Obama – and that he never saw it as a negative. “He called four people the other day and expressed his condolences in the best way that he could,” General Kelly noted. “And he said to me, what do I say? I said to him, sir, there's nothing you can do to lighten the burden on these families.”
Me? I certainly respect the opinion of General Kelly more than that of a Congresswoman who finds it her place to intrude on such a personal situation.