Media outlets were abuzz on Tuesday about what they claim is the former Trump chief-of-staff John Kelly’s “confirmation” that Trump had made disparaging comments against those who have served in the military. The public has been duped once again.

Kelly gave a statement to CNN’s Jake Tapper. Tapper said that it was “on the record confirmation of several damning stories regarding statements Trump made at closed doors, attacking U.S. military personnel and veterans. Listing a number of objectionable remarks Kelly saw Trump make firsthand.”

It’s not true that Kelly saw Trump make these statements. Tapper’s exact report is below:

When asked to comment on the recent remarks made by former Trump officials. Kelly said, “What can I add that has not already been said?” When asked if he wanted to weigh in on his former boss in light of recent comments made by other former Trump officials.

Kelly went on to say, “A person that isn’t truthful about his position regarding the protection of unborn lives, women, minorities, evangelical Christians, Jews, working men and woman, etc.” “A person who has no clue what America represents and what America is about.” Someone who suggests cavalierly that a selfless soldier who served his country in war and peace for 40 years should be executed for treason, in the hope that someone would take action. Autocrats, murderous dictators, and those who are in favor of them. Someone who has contempt for democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of Law.

Kelly concluded, “There’s nothing else to say, God help us.”

Kelly never says in the statement that he saw Trump make any of these comments. He’s simply reacting as if the statements were true. It’s difficult to believe that Tapper left out that part of Kelly’s statement.

Tapper claims that Kelly’s statements confirm the debunked story in The Atlantic, which cited anonymous sources that claimed that Trump did not want to visit Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Paris in 2018 because the soldiers who died there in battle were “losers,” and “suckers.” Twenty witnesses, including John Bolton who isn’t a fan of Trump’s, have disputed this story. They all went on record.

No one has publicly confirmed the accusations despite calls from both sides of the aisle for anonymous sources to come forward. Jeffrey Goldberg admitted in an interview with CNN, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, that a crucial detail in his article might be incorrect.

The article in The Atlantic about 2020 also stated that, on Memorial Day 2017, Trump said to Kelly at Arlington National Cemetery: “I don’t understand it.” Kelly refused to comment on the story, so The Atlantic relied instead on an anonymous Kelly friend. Although it sounds as if Kelly is a believer in the Trump stories, Tapper’s article does not indicate that Kelly has confirmed the allegations.

Kelly served first as Trump’s Homeland Secretary before becoming Trump’s Chief of Staff, a position he held until January 2019. Kelly, who has lost a child in Afghanistan, is unlikely to have continued serving in Trump’s government if he had actually heard Trump say those words. Kelly would need to be clear if he really saw Trump make these statements. Tapper’s account is not credible.

The real question is, would these old accusations be repeated right now if Trump were not beating Biden at the polls?