Kelly’s supporters say he stepped in to block or divert the president on dozens of matters large and small. They credit him, in part, for persuading Trump not to pull U.S. forces out of South Korea, or withdraw from NATO, as he had threatened.
Kelly said he made sure that Trump had access to multiple streams of detailed information before he made a decision — even if the president says he often relies on his gut, rather than U.S. intelligence.
“It’s never been: The president just wants to make a decision based on no knowledge and ignorance,” Kelly said. “You may not like his decision, but at least he was fully informed on the impact.”
“I’m guarded by the Secret Service. I can’t even go get a beer,” he quipped.
But Trump never ordered him to do anything illegal, Kelly stressed, “because we wouldn’t have.”
More….https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-john-kelly-exit-interview-20181230-story.html