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A group of more than 100 former security officials in Republican administrations called on Wednesday former President Trump unable to serve and said he’s supporting Kamala Harris for president.
The letter from 111 former GOP leaders, including former defense secretaries, CIA chiefs and a director of national intelligence, derides Trump as a would-be strongman who rregularly betrayed American interests on the world stage bowing to enemies like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
“As president, (Trump) has promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans.” I read the letter. “(He) prioritized his personal interest over American interests and betrayed our values, democracy and the founding documents of this country.
US President Donald Trump visits South Korea
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A press photo provided by Dong-A Ilbo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea on June 30, 2019 in Panmunjom, South Korea. (Press photo by Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The officials, many of whom have previously broken with Trump, said the former president has also betrayed the trust of the American people by trying to undo his loss in the 2020 election.
“He violated his oath of office and brought danger to our country,” the letter said.
He was quoting former Vice President Mike Pence, who separately denounced his former boss, saying that “anyone who stands on the Constitution should never be president of the United States.”
The letter noted that GOP leaders did not necessarily agree with many of Harris’ positions. But he cited his support for a strong America and said any concerns “pale in comparison to” his concerns about the terrible threat posed by Trump if he wins a new four-year term.
The signatories include a number of officials who served under recent GOP presidents Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush or George W. Bush.
Some had previously publicly broken with Trump, but they did they have not yet declared their support for Harris.
The list includes former CIA directors Michael Hayden and William Webster, former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte and former defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and William Cohen.
The letter marks the latest effort by so-called #NeverTrump Republicans to prevent the disgraced former president from returning to the White House.
Several GOP officials including ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger was speaking at the Democratic National Convention to warn of the danger of Trump.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who served under George W. Bush, recently joined by his daughter, ex-Rep. Liz Cheney in approving Harris.
Pence, who had to run for his life from a crowd of pro-Trump protesters on Jan. 6, says he won’t vote for Trump, but he hasn’t endorsed Harris. John Bolton, Trump’s former National Security Adviser, took a similar stance.
George W. Bush says he is retired from politics and he didn’t plan to endorse anyone in the 2024 presidential race.