Trump denies making positive comments about Hitler

Former President Donald Trump is denying he praised Adolf Hitler arsenic having done "some bully things," arsenic his erstwhile main of unit and retired Marine wide John Kelly was reported to person said this week.

"Never said it," Trump said, answering newsman questions arsenic he campaigned successful battleground Nevada connected Thursday.

Kelly told The New York Times successful an extensive interview that Trump said positively of Hitler while successful office. Kelly expressed wide interest that Trump would enactment much for illustration a dictator if elected to different 4 years successful nan White House and said, successful his view, nan erstwhile president fresh nan meaning of a "fascist."

"He commented much than erstwhile that, 'You know, Hitler did immoderate bully things, too,'" Kelly said of Trump.

Kelly's comments came aft The Atlantic reported that Trump erstwhile said he wanted generals for illustration Hitler had.

Republican statesmanlike nominee, erstwhile President Donald Trump arrives astatine a Turning Point Action run rally astatine nan Thomas & Mack Center connected Oct. 24, 2024 successful Las Vegas.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Trump besides denied saying nan comments attributed to him successful The Atlantic story.

"No, I ne'er said that. I ne'er said that. It's a rag that's made-up stories before. He's done it before," Trump said.

"Right earlier nan election. It's conscionable a failing magazine," Trump continued.

Vice President Kamala Harris and different apical Democrats person seized connected nan reporting arsenic they ramp up their criticisms of Trump arsenic a threat to democracy successful nan last agelong of nan 2024 campaign.

Harris pointed to Kelly's comments arsenic she campaigned alongside erstwhile President Barack Obama successful Georgia connected Thursday night.

"Take a infinitesimal to deliberation astir what that means, that Trump said, quote, 'Hitler did immoderate bully things,' and that Trump wished he had generals for illustration Hitler's, who would beryllium loyal to Trump and not to America's Constitution," Harris said.

Obama besides deed Trump complete nan reported remarks.

"The absorbing point is, he acts truthful crazy, and it's go truthful common, that group nary longer return it seriously," Obama said of Trump. "I'm present to explicate to you conscionable because he acts goofy does not mean his presidency wouldn't beryllium dangerous."

"Now, I hap to cognize John Kelly and Mark Milley," Obama added (Milley was president of nan Joint Chiefs of Staff). "They served nether maine erstwhile I was commandant successful chief. These are superior group … They are group who person ne'er successful nan past moreover talked astir authorities because they judge that nan subject should beryllium supra politics," he said. "But nan logic they're speaking up is because they person seen that successful Donald Trump's mind, nan subject does not beryllium to service nan Constitution aliases nan American people."

During a pull-aside question and reply pinch Fox News connected Thursday, Trump lashed retired astatine Harris for calling him a "fascist," saying "everyone knows that's not true."

"I've ne'er seen anybody truthful inept astatine speaking. I mean, I thought she her capacity was horrible," he said astir Harris' CNN municipality hallway appearance.

"But she did telephone maine a fascist, and everyone knows that's not true. They telephone maine everything until, you know, thing sticks," he said.

In a uncommon associated statement, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell powerfully condemned Harris calling erstwhile President Donald Trump a "fascist" and comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

The 2 Republican leaders said Harris' remarks person "only fanned nan flames beneath a boiling cauldron of governmental animus. Her astir caller and astir reckless invocations of nan darkest evil of nan 20th period look to situation it to boil over."

ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.