Bill Kristol says he wouldn’t be surprised by Michael Flynn presidential bid

Political analyst Bill Kristol said on Sunday that he wouldn’t be surprised if former national security adviser and Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn ran for president should former President Trump opt out of the race in 2024.

In a series of tweets, Kristol said that recent verbal attacks Trump and Fox News host Tucker Carlson made about the military are meant to appeal to “aggrieved troops and vets, and to divide the military and subvert civilian control.”

“Trump voters are pro-military. Why are Trump and Carlson attacking the military?”
But the attack is on “woke generals,” the “brass,” and disloyal civilians in charge. It’s an attempt to appeal to aggrieved troops and vets, and to divide the military and subvert civilian control.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 27, 2021

Kristol called such rhetoric “a classic move from the authoritarian playbook.”

“Or from the fascist playbook,” he added.

Or from the fascist playbook.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 27, 2021

Kristol said he “wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Flynn becomes ever more central to the Trumpist movement.”

“Military man, killed terrorists, fired by Obama, persecuted by the deep state, Trump loyalist, and QAnon. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran if Trump doesn’t in 2024,” Kristol wrote.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Flynn becomes ever more central to the Trumpist movement. Military man, killed terrorists, fired by Obama, persecuted by the deep state, Trump loyalist, and QAnon. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran if Trump doesn’t in 2024.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 27, 2021

Flynn was Trump’s first national security adviser. He later pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with the top Russian diplomat in the United States and agreed to cooperate with former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Flynn was later pardoned by Trump in the waning weeks of his administration following the former president’s 2020 election loss.