On Monday, it was reported that Donald Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly regularly refers to Donald Trump as an "idiot."
"He doesn't even understand what DACA is. He's an idiot," John Kelly said in one meeting, according to two official… https://t.co/kcqM1LAzfa— MSNBC (@MSNBC) 1525149186.0
Last night Donald Trump tried to swat down that report with tweets of solidarity:
The Fake News is going crazy making up false stories and using only unnamed sources (who don’t exist). They are tot… https://t.co/CU3W06ZAJw— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1525128595.0
The White House is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc. There is great Energy and unending Stamina,… https://t.co/2jCDNt5hH8— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1525129333.0
Also, John Kelly released his own statement calling the report "total BS."
Via @PressSec, John Kelly responds to this @NBCNews story, by @carolelee, @ckubeNBC, @kwelkernbc, and @SRuhle, with… https://t.co/qemeZzRNWH— David Gura (@David Gura) 1525123168.0
But the report is certainly nothing new. There is a long history of Trump's own close officials calling him a variety of insults and NBC News decided to put them all in one place on the air on Tuesday, with what anchor Hallie Jackson called their "insult list."
NBC news screenshot (NBC)
The insults cited include:
"An idiot" - John Kelly, Chief of Staff
"F***ing moron" - Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State
A "dope"...intelligence of a "kindergartener" - H.R. McMaster, National Security Advisor
Dumb as s***" - Gary Cohn, Chief Economic Advisor
"Idiot" - Reince Priebus, Chief of Staff
As Jackson noted:
"If you notice, none of them work for Donald Trump anymore except for John Kelly."
Which could lend credence to the rumor that Kelly may be leaving the White House as soon as this summer.
Meanwhile, plenty of people have picked up on the story on the president's favorite social media site, Twitter. The number of Tweets repeating the string of insults cannot sit well with Trump.
Testimonials about @realDonaldTrump: Rex Tillerson: “He’s a f*cking moron” John Kelly: “He’s an idiot” HR McMaster… https://t.co/oDHiivR19K— Philippe Reines (@Philippe Reines) 1525124567.0
Trump Allies Describe Trump John Kelly: Idiot Tillerson: Moron Pruitt: Empty vessel Mnuchin Priebus Murdoch McMaste… https://t.co/IxyZkkezSS— Rick G. Rosner (@Rick G. Rosner) 1525130406.0
Feedback from Trump employees. @RealDonaldTrump is: "a moron" (Tillerson) "dumb as shit" (Cohn) "a dope" (McMaste… https://t.co/uUKLpHento— West Wing Reports (@West Wing Reports) 1525132718.0
I find John Kelly’s comments on Trump’s intelligence disrespectful, unpleasant, vicious, rude and insulting to idiots.— jimberooooo (@jimberooooo) 1525129562.0
Many speculated that the stories about Kelly's insults are a deliberate ploy by other members of Trump's staff intended to get the retired general fired like several of his predecessors who also reportedly insulted Trump.
@PalmerReport @realDonaldTrump And 2 of the 3 were fired...clock’s a ticken’ for John Kelly...⏰⏰⏰ @realDonaldTrump… https://t.co/JTEI2fk1c3— WendyTEAM PETEphi🌊❤️✌🏻 (@WendyTEAM PETEphi🌊❤️✌🏻) 1525133603.0
BREAKING: NBC reported that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly called Trump "an idiot" Trump Will NOW Fire Him— PoliticsVideoChannel (@PoliticsVideoChannel) 1525122271.0
If Trump fires John Kelly for the sole reason that he called Trump an idiot, then Trump will just be proving him right: Trump is an idiot.— Kylie 🦋 (@Kylie 🦋) 1525123652.0
John Kelly has referred to Trump as "an idiot" multiple times, NBC News reports. Some current and former officials… https://t.co/JeBv8YyYBf— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1525119635.0
If JOHN Kelly is calling Trump an idiot behind the scenes, all the more reason to keep him. Smells like Ivanka and Jared leaking.— Chelsea Handler (@Chelsea Handler) 1525129582.0
One person even went so far as to create a trivia poll about the insults allegedly hurled at the president by his own staff.
At least four top Trump administration officials (past and present) – John Kelly, H.R. McMaster, Rex Tillerson and… https://t.co/TDyQFwxtOq— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@Jon Cooper 🇺🇸) 1525132409.0