Over 100 former GOP officials support Harris over Trump in strong letter

A group of over 100 notable former officials from Republican administrations has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, issuing a stern letter that labels Donald Trump as “unfit to serve again as President, or indeed in any office of public trust.”

This letter, acquired by The New York Times, features signatures from prominent figures including former defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and William Cohen, along with former CIA directors Michael Hayden and William Webster. Additionally, former Trump administration officials Miles Taylor and Olivia Troye are among the signatories.

While acknowledging that they may disagree with Harris on various issues, the signatories argue that Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and his conduct on January 6 render him unqualified for public office. The letter articulates, “As President, he promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans, prioritized his personal interest above American interests, and betrayed our values, democracy, and this country’s founding documents.”

The letter commends Harris for her positions advocating for Israel, upholding NATO, and increasing security presence at the US-Mexico border. It highlights a contrast to Trump’s approach during his presidency.

Trump campaign representative Steven Cheung responded to this endorsement by criticizing the signatories, asserting, “These are the same people who got our country into endless foreign wars and profited off of them while the American people suffered. President Trump is the only President in the modern era not to get our country into any new wars.”

Many influential anti-Trump Republicans have rallied behind Harris’s campaign. For instance, former U.S. representative Liz Cheney, who has been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress, declared earlier this month that she would vote for Harris, a sentiment echoed by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

In a speech to a North Carolina audience, Liz Cheney explained her decision, saying, “As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”

Other Republicans have gone even further in their public displays of support for Harris, such as former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, who attended the Democratic National Convention and voiced his criticisms of Trump. “Donald Trump is a weak man pretending to be strong,” Kinzinger remarked during the DNC, describing him as a “small man pretending to be big,” and accusing him of victimhood while being the perpetrator.

The endorsements from these prominent Republican figures may be strategic for the Harris campaign, potentially appealing to independents and moderate Republicans. A recent poll conducted by USA Today and Suffolk University indicates that Harris has a 43-38 advantage among independents in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, which reflects her current standing in the broader presidential race.

The growing support from previous Republican officials and conservative critics underscores a significant shift in the political landscape as the election approaches. With concerns about Trump’s leadership and the potential implications for the country, these endorsements may play a pivotal role in shaping voter perceptions and influencing the outcome of the upcoming election.