It is late October, with less than two weeks until Election Day. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, two stories broke with a similar theme.
The Atlantic: “Trump: ‘I Need The Kind Of Generals That Hitler Had.’”
The New York Times: “As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator.”
These headlines generated more news stories. Left-leaning news outlets reported on claims within the articles, while right-leaning news outlets reported on those refuting the claims.
The Daily Beast: “Trump Raged at Slain Soldier’s Funeral Bill: ‘$60K to Bury a F***ing Mexican.’”
Forbes: “Trump Fits The ‘Definition Of Fascist’ And Said ‘Hitler Did Some Good Things.’”
Fox News: “The Atlantic report alleging Trump disparaged slain Army private blasted by family and others as ‘Absolutely false.’
New York Post: “Vanessa Guillen’s sister and family attorney slam Atlantic editor for claiming Trump dissed murdered Army servicewoman: ‘He outright LIED.’”
Headlines like these underscore the partisan and polarizing divide between left and right-leaning news outlets when covering certain topics. The Atlantic’s claims about Trump’s involvement in the burial of Army soldier Vanessa Guillen sparked numerous reactions.

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Guillen was killed by a fellow soldier, a death that brought reforms in military policies regarding sexual assault and harassment. Guillen’s family met with Trump at the White House in 2020. According to the Atlantic, Trump said, “If I can help you out with the funeral, I’ll help.”
The Atlantic reported that months later in another meeting, Trump asked, “Did they bill us for the funeral? What did it cost?” An aide answered, “Yes, we received a bill; the funeral cost $60,000.” Trump allegedly became angry, stating, “It doesn’t cost 60 thousand bucks to bury a f***ing Mexican!” He then reportedly turned to his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and issued the order, “Don’t pay it!”
The Atlantic cited multiple attendees who remained anonymous and notes taken at the meeting by a participant. However, Guillen’s sister, the family’s attorney and Mark Meadows are refuting the published claims.
Meadows stated he “was in the discussions featured in the Atlantic’s hit piece against Trump,” adding that “any suggestion that Trump disparaged Ms. Guillen or refused to pay for her funeral expenses is absolutely false.”
The family’s attorney, Natalie Khawam, said in a post on X that the editor in chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who wrote the story, “used and exploited” her clients and Vanessa Guillen’s murder for “cheap political gain.”
Guillen’s sister Mayra called the piece “hurtful and disrespectful to the important changes her sister made for service members,” stating on X, “Trump did nothing but show respect to my family and Vanessa. In fact, I voted for President Trump today.”
The part of the Atlantic’s story garnering the most attention is testimony from John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff. Goldberg wrote, “Trump asked John Kelly, ‘Why can’t you be like the German generals?’” Kelly reportedly responded by asking, “‘Do you mean Bismarck’s generals?’ Surely you can’t mean Hitler’s generals?” to which Trump allegedly replied, “Yeah, yeah, Hitler’s generals.”
CNN interviewed Goldberg about the claims made in his article.
“We’ve never had a president of the United States or a major party candidate who has expressed such admiration for the leadership style of Adolf Hitler,” Goldberg said. “Among the many things John Kelly was shocked at while working in the White House is the idea that Trump would regularly tell him how much he admired Hitler.”
Kelly also spoke with the New York Times for its piece published this week and doubled down on his claims.
“The former president is in the far-right area, certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators,” Kelly said. “He has said that, so he certainly falls into the category of a fascist for sure.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson said Kelly’s claims are “absolutely false,” asserting that “Trump has always honored the service and sacrifice of military men and women.”
As Kelly’s remarks are renewed in headlines 13 days before the election, it is important to note that these accusations are not new. Kelly has been an outspoken critic of the former president, with his comments appearing in the New York Times in 2022 and in the Washington Post two years ago. Kelly’s accusations resurfaced in the headlines again earlier this year in March.