Olivia Troye, a former national security official during the Trump administration and adviser to Mike Pence, revealed that some military officials hesitate to speak out against Donald Trump due to concerns about politicizing the military and potential retribution.

Following comments from former Chief of Staff John Kelly, who criticized Trump for allegedly praising Adolf Hitler, Troye noted that military leaders are weighing the impact of their statements on the military’s reputation and their own safety.

She emphasized the financial burdens of personal security that former officials face when they criticize Trump.

Troye warned that if Trump returns to power, he would likely eliminate institutional guardrails, increasing risks for military and intelligence leaders who might oppose him, ABC News has reported.

Trump’s campaign responded by dismissing Kelly’s comments as unfounded and suggested he is suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Written by B.C. Begley