Donald Trump in 2018 during his presidency. According to the book The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, Trump allegedly expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler’s generals during a conversation with his then-Chief of Staff, John Kelly. Trump reportedly said, “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” implying he wanted unwavering loyalty from his military leaders.

Kelly responded by explaining that German generals were not completely loyal to Hitler, referencing their attempts to assassinate him. Trump allegedly dismissed the point and reiterated his desire for loyalty in his own chain of command.

These remarks were widely criticized when the story became public, highlighting concerns about Trump’s leadership style and expectations for military obedience.