Appearing on CNN News Central on Tuesday morning, CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter talked up former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley calling Donald Trump a "fascist to the core" in a book by Washington Post editor Bob Woodward, and mused over the possibility that Democrat Kamala Harris might try to draw attention to the attack during her interview with Fox News host Bret Baier.
They underlined this on screen: "WOODWARD BOOK: MILLEY CALLED TRUMP 'FASCIST TO THE CORE." They loved it.
CNN host Sara Sidner brought up Woodward's new book, War, as she posed: "You have read Bob Woodward's new book that is out this morning, and in it, he has this quote where Mark Milley calls Trump a 'fascist.' You've read the book. Can you put this in some context for us and give us some idea of all that is in the book, named War?"
Stelter declared that Milley is sending a "chilling message" about the former President:
This book is largely about the Biden administration, but the headlines about Trump really stand out. Mark Milley -- Trump's former Joint Chiefs chairman -- is using Bob Woodward to send a message -- and it's a chilling message -- on page 179 in this book. You know, part of the quote has been publicized in recent days. People have been talking about it. Milley calling Trump a "fascist to the core."
He then promoted the former Joint Chiefs chairman calling for the press to stop Trump from being elected again and mused about the media spending more time discussing fascism in order to do so:
The other part of the quote's also really striking. Milley also says to Woodward, "We have got to stop him. You have got to stop him." Woodward says that the "you" is referring to the American press writ large. To have the former Joint Chiefs chairman calling the former President and wannabe next President a "fascist" is front-page news, and I'm glad it's been treated that way in the last few days. We have to talk seriously in this country about what fascism is and what it means to have Milley making this warning.
Stelter then seemed to hope that Vice President Kamala Harris will expose Fox News viewers to the quote during the Democrat presidential candidate's upcoming interview on Fox News:
It will be interesting to see, by the way, if Milley does TV interviews or does other press because so far he's only using Woodward to get this message out. And, Sara, this warning is not getting through to pro-Trump media. It's being completely ignored. So I wonder if Harris will bring it up on Fox tomorrow. When she goes on appearances like Fox, she has a chance to show and tell people that are not hearing this stuff about it for the first time.
Wrapping up the segment, Sidner remarked: "Yeah, that's exactly right. We will wait and see with that big interview coming up with Bret Baier on Fox News." She said thank you to Stelter, and co-host John Berman added: "It's great to read Brian and to see him live on TV on CNN News Central."
Transcript follows:
CNN News Central
October 15, 2024
8:38 a.m. Eastern
SARA SIDNER: You have read Bob Woodward's new book that is out this morning, and in it, he has this quote where Mark Milley calls Trump a "fascist." You've read the book. Can you put this in some context for us and give us some idea of all that is in the book, named War?
BRIAN STELTER: That's right. This book is largely about the Biden administration, but the headlines about Trump really stand out. Mark Milley -- Trump's former Joint Chiefs chairman -- is using Bob Woodward to send a message -- and it's a chilling message -- on page 179 in this book. You know, part of the quote has been publicized in recent days. People have been talking about it. Milley calling Trump a "fascist to the core."
The other part of the quote's also really striking. Milley also says to Woodward, "We have got to stop him. You have got to stop him." Woodward says that the "you" is referring to the American press writ large. To have the former Joint Chiefs chairman calling the former President and wannabe next President a "fascist" is front-page news, and I'm glad it's been treated that way in the last few days. We have to talk seriously in this country about what fascism is and what it means to have Milley making this warning.
It will be interesting to see, by the way, if Milley does TV interviews or does other press because so far he's only using Woodward to get this message out. And, Sara, this warning is not getting through to pro-Trump media. It's being completely ignored. So I wonder if Harris will bring it up on Fox tomorrow. When she goes on appearances like Fox, she has a chance to show and tell people that are not hearing this stuff about it for the first time.
SIDNER: Yeah, that's exactly right. We will wait and see with that big interview coming up with Bret Baier on Fox News. Brian Stelter, thank you so much for running through all that with us. Appreciate it. John?
JOHN BERMAN: I was just reading about this on "Reliable Sources," written by Brian Stelter, that published like two minutes ago. It's great to read Brian and to see him live on TV on CNN News Central.
