Staff Reports
In a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana took retired Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner to task over some rather unflattering comments Manner made about President Trump and his supporters. It seems Manner thinks he’s sitting on some lofty moral perch while judging millions of Americans who proudly back the former president. Who knew being a general came with a side of condescension?
Manner, who crossed swords with Kennedy, had previously appeared on CNN and claimed that Trump supporters are “fascists themselves.” Yes, that’s right. Manner, who believes the GOP lacks a grasp on the intricacies of fascism, was involved in a not-so-joyous round of finger-pointing during the hearing, which focused on the contentious topic of mass deportations. Kennedy, not one to shy away from a verbal duel, eloquently reminded Manner of his own harsh statements the general made on national television.
Senator John Kennedy confronts Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner over his past comments calling President-elect Trump and his supporters "fascists."
"You think you’re smarter than the American people, don’t you?” pic.twitter.com/tCKuBuzof3
— Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) December 11, 2024
The senator called out Manner’s comments, laying out the retired general’s own words about Trump being a “total fascist” and that most MAGA Republicans don’t understand the meaning of fascism. Senator Kennedy was not just reading from a script; he was serving up a reminder of Manner’s verbal volleys back to him. And don’t forget, Manner had the audacity to think that he wasn’t at the hearing to discuss his personal views, even though he had already made those views quite public in previous interviews.
In a remarkable display of defense, Manner insisted that he wasn’t trying to be a know-it-all regarding the American populace. That’s a tough sell coming from someone who likens hard-working citizens supporting their president to historical villains. Kennedy, ever the fighter, asked Manner if he thought he was somehow more virtuous than the millions of Americans who proudly wear their MAGA hats. Predictably, Manner, clearly feeling defensive, replied that he was far from feeling superior.
As the exchange got heated, it became clearer than ever that the retired general had an agenda of his own and wasn’t shy about throwing Trump supporters under the bus. Manner’s previous endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris only served to solidify the notion that he’s more in tune with the Democratic establishment than the average Joe out there trying to earn an honest living. Meanwhile, Kennedy wasn’t about to let Manner off easy, pressing the issue further and making sure the entire committee—and the entire country—was aware of this general’s disdain for Trump’s base.
Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder of how out of touch some in the military and liberal circles maybe with the everyday American. When generals take to their soapboxes to lecture the voting population, the hypocrisy seems almost staggering. The real question on the table is whether individuals like Manner understand the real values and beliefs of the people they are so eager to criticize, or if they’re simply more comfortable fighting the battles set forth by their preferred political elite.
