John Kelly, former White House chief of staff under Donald Trump, has provided insights into the ex-president’s conduct during his recent arraignment, suggesting that Trump’s outward display of defiance was a facade to conceal his deep-seated fear of the legal jeopardy he faces. In an interview with The Washington Post, Kelly expressed his skepticism regarding Trump’s public persona on that day.
According to Kelly, Trump’s bluster and projected strength during the arraignment were merely a means to compensate for his genuine fear. Kelly bluntly stated, “He’s scared sh*tless,” adding that Trump’s bravado is a way to create the appearance that he is unfazed by the situation. Kelly noted that Trump has never before experienced accountability in his life, always resorting to legal battles and avoiding consequences. However, with the current legal challenges, it seems that Trump is encountering a newfound sense of scrutiny and potential repercussions.
As one of the prominent former members of the Trump administration who has turned against the ex-president, Kelly has been vocal about his reservations and has shared unflattering details about Trump since leaving the White House. His assessment of Trump’s behavior during the arraignment aligns with other journalists’ observations that Trump appeared downcast in the courtroom, despite projecting a more upbeat image in public.
Stephanie Grisham, former Trump press secretary, echoed Kelly’s sentiments, suggesting that Trump’s desire to maintain enthusiastic crowds is part of a larger public relations strategy. Grisham described it as a mix of public relations and the staff’s attempts to keep Trump occupied and prevent him from becoming angry or upset. The goal is to present a positive image to the public, ensuring that the cheering crowds give Trump the ego boost he craves, thereby avoiding potential confrontations.
He’s scared sh*tless. This is the way he compensates for that. He gives people the appearance he doesn’t care by doing this. For the first time in his life, it looks like he’s being held accountable. Up until this point in his life, it’s like, I’m not going to pay you, take me to court. He’s never been held accountable before.”
It’s part public relations and part babysitting,” she said. “He wants people to see the cheering crowds so they don’t think anything is going wrong. It’s also because the staff around him want to keep him busy and wants to have people cheering for him and giving him the ego stroke that he’ll need so they don’t have to deal with him being completely pissed.”
