Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana sparred with retired Army Major General Randy Manner during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. Kennedy questioned Manner about his past criticism of President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters, asking if he considered himself “more virtuous” than Trump’s base.
Kennedy referenced comments Manner made during an October appearance on CNN’s Laura Coates Live, where Manner referred to Trump’s supporters as “fascists themselves.” The exchange occurred during a hearing titled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.”
“On October 14th of this year, you went on CNN. I want to read you what you said, make sure I’m accurate. Here’s what you said: ‘President Trump is not like any sane leader. I’m very proud of General Milley for saying that President Trump is a total fascist,’” Kennedy asked. “To Bob Woodward, ‘If he as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is calling the president a fascist, I’m so proud of him for breaking that barrier. The challenge is because most MAGA Republicans, they don’t understand what fascism is. The reality is that they are, in fact, fascists themselves.’ Did I read that accurately?”
Manner, who spoke out against deploying the National Guard to assist with deportations of undocumented immigrants, stated that he was not there to share his “personal perspective.”
“Did I read that accurately?” Kennedy asked.
“I believe so. Yes,” Manner responded.
Manner, who had stated during an October 14 appearance on Morning Joe that Trump supporters were “absolutely supporting fascism,” was among hundreds of generals who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign, which ultimately ended in her defeat by Trump. Kennedy then questioned Manner about these remarks.
“You think you’re smarter than the American people, don’t you?” Kennedy asked, with Manner responding, “Absolutely not, senator. I am here to discuss the use of the military as part of this mass deportation.”
“You think you’re more virtuous than the American people, don’t you, general?” Kennedy asked, with Manner saying, “Senator, I’m insulted by your comment.”
During the final weeks of the campaign, Harris and her running mate, Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, intensified their criticism of Trump. On October 30, Harris delivered a speech labeling the former president a “petty tyrant,” just days after referring to him as a “fascist” during a CNN town hall.
“Ms. Moran said — I wrote down her words — she said, ‘By their actions, you know what someone’s character is like,’” Kennedy observed.
