Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal spoke out in criticism of President Trump again, this time in his harshest words yet.
In an interview with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz on Sunday, McChrystal criticized the President’s decisions, character, and morals, saying he would never work for Trump.
Watch the exchange below:
Raddatz asked McChrystal, “If you were asked to join the Trump administration, what would you say?”
“I think it’s important for me to work for people who I think are basically honest, who tell the truth as best they know it,” he said. “I’m very tolerant of people who make mistakes because I make so many of them — and I’ve been around leaders who’ve made mistakes … but through all of them, I almost never saw people trying to get it wrong. And I almost never saw people who were openly disingenuous on things.”
“You think he’s a liar?” Raddatz asked in surprise.
“I don’t think he tells the truth,” McChrystal answered.
“Is Trump immoral, in your view?” Raddatz asked.
“I think he is,” McChrystal responded.
Raddatz then asked McChrystal what he would say to Trump’s supporters.
“What I would ask every American to do is … stand in front of that mirror and say, ‘What are we about? Am I really willing to throw away or ignore some of the things that people do that are — are pretty unacceptable normally just because they accomplish certain other things that we might like?” McChrystal said.
“If we want to be governed by someone we wouldn’t do a business deal with because their — their background is so shady, if we’re willing to do that, then that’s in conflict with who I think we are. And so I think it’s necessary at those times to take a stand,” he added.
McChrystal also directed his remarks at Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
“I think the great mistake in the president’s leaked guidance is that just when we were starting to sit down with the Taliban, just we were starting to begin negotiations, he basically traded away the biggest leverage point we have,” McChrystal said, according to ABC News.
Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal calls Trump dishonest and immoral, warns against troop withdrawalhttps://t.co/rVu1xiWv9Y pic.twitter.com/AYiHjPzqLT
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 31, 2018
McChrystal, a four-star general, 34-year Army veteran and former head of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, was terminated by former President Barack Obama in June 2010 and replaced by Gen. David Petraeus.
McChrystal had made disparaging remarks about Obama and his national security team, which were said to have compromised his mission, eroded trust, and failed to meet the standards of a commanding general, according to an ABC News report at the time.
In November, McChrystal criticized the way President Trump responded to negative remarks made by retired Adm. Bill McRaven.
“His discussions on Bill McRaven, as well as his previous discussions on John McCain and others have been something that’s deeply disturbing to a lot of thoughtful people,” McChrystal replied. “The fact that he would take on people in this vitriolic manner, I think is pretty upsetting to people.”
“I don’t think it builds up the kind of trust that military people depend upon,” he added.
