John Kelly to California teacher who bashed military: 'Go to hell'

Ryan W. Miller | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump, Kelly disagree on border wall with Mexico President Donald Trump contradicted his chief of staff over a border wall with Mexico. John Kelly described Trump's views as "an evolutionary process," but Trump tweeted that his views "never changed or evolved" from when he was campaigning. (Jan. 18)

Normally a reserved voice in the White House, chief of staff John Kelly had forceful words for a California teacher who insulted military service members' intelligence.

"I think the guy ought to go to hell." Kelly said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News Radio. "I just hope he enjoys the liberties and the lifestyle that we have fought for."

High school teacher Gregory Salcido has faced harsh criticism since being caught on camera telling his class that service members are "the lowest of our low."

"They’re not like high-level thinkers, they’re not academic people, they’re not intellectual people," Salcido said, while also using vulgarities to describe service members. The school district is investigating Salcido's comments, CNN reported.

Kelly is a retired Marine Corps general, and has spoken out on issues related to the military. In October, he defended President Trump's controversial comments to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed by Islamic State-linked militants in Niger.

Follow Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller