While John Kelly said he supported the previous administration’s decision to designate U.S. election systems “critical infrastructure,” he also acknowledged that elections remain the domain of the states. | Bernardo Montoya/AP Kelly: States 'nuts' if they don't ask feds for election protection help

ASPEN, Colorado — Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Wednesday that states that aren't asking Washington for help in protecting their election systems from hackers are "nuts."

But while Kelly said he supported the Obama administration’s decision to designate U.S. election systems “critical infrastructure,” given threats from Russia and other entities, he also acknowledged that elections remain the domain of the states.


"All of the input I get from all of the states are 'We don’t want you involved in our election process,'” he said in a discussion moderated by Pete Williams of NBC News. “I think they’re nuts if they don’t [seek help. But] If they don’t want the help, they don’t have to ask.”

Kelly spoke during the opening session of this year’s Aspen Security Forum ; he’s one of several officials in President Donald Trump’s administration slated to speak at the gathering, which runs through Saturday.

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Kelly, a retired Marine general, received significant support during his confirmation process from Democrats, many of whom hoped he would take a nuanced approach to issues such as deportation and border security.

But many of those Democrats have since been bitterly disappointed in Kelly’s approach, including his seemingly indiscriminate crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and his support for Trump’s efforts to ban visitors from six majority-Muslim countries.

Kelly insisted Wednesday that he remains committed to driving down illegal immigration. He said that despite how well-meaning many undocumented immigrants may be, they are still taking the wrong path to the United States.

He proudly noted that illegal crossings at the southern U.S. border are down significantly since Trump took office, but he also said there’s much to do in terms of securing the U.S. from malign intruders.

For instance, the administration plans to move ahead with efforts to require that other countries use more technically advanced passports, he said. And people seeking a visa to the United States are in many cases likely to see more intense scrutiny, including longer interviews, he added.

Kelly showed good humor throughout the discussion Wednesday, despite fielding intense questions on everything from dealing with tracking when visitors exit the United States to why he makes sure to always praise his workforce.

When he met with Trump about joining his administration, the president said he believed the job he’d be offering Kelly was the hardest in the government, Kelly recalled.

“I panicked,” Kelly said, adding that he thought Trump was going to offer him the helm of the State Department.

At one point on stage, Kelly’s phone rang, but he ignored it, joking: “It might be the president, so I do want to miss the call.”

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John Kelly