Over 700 Former National Security Officials Endorse Kamala Harris for President, Citing Trump’s "Vengeful Impulsiveness"
In a significant and historic move, over 700 former national security and military officials have publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election, denouncing Donald Trump as unfit for the office. The endorsement, published Sunday in an open letter by National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A), highlights a growing concern among national security experts about the potential danger of a Trump presidency. The group claims that Trump’s "impulsive and ill-informed" leadership poses a serious threat to national security and American democracy.
Key Takeaways:
- Over 700 former national security and military officials have endorsed Kamala Harris. This includes 15 retired four-star generals, 12 former Cabinet-level officials, eight service secretaries, over 120 ambassadors, and even three former Trump-era officials.
- The letter accuses Trump of undermining American democracy and threatening the peaceful transfer of power. It also criticizes his public attacks on American allies and his decision to abandon Kurdish fighters in Syria in 2019.
- The endorsement comes as Harris’ campaign actively seeks to appeal to conservative and moderate voters. The "Republicans for Harris" group, launched in August, has already garnered endorsements from prominent Republicans like Dick Cheney, the former vice president.
- The move represents a growing concern among national security experts about the potential danger of a Trump presidency. This is the second time this week that a group of former national security officials has endorsed Harris, following a Wednesday letter from 111 Republican officials who also cited Trump’s unfitness for office.
A Bipartisan Call for Stability
The NSL4A letter emphasizes the importance of stable and experienced leadership in the face of global challenges. It argues that Harris’s experience in the Senate and as vice president, coupled with her understanding of foreign policy, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the nation.
The letter also explicitly criticizes Trump’s repeated attempts to undermine the legitimacy of American elections. It highlights his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his repeated claims of voter fraud, which have been widely debunked. The signatories express grave concern about Trump’s willingness to potentially disregard the results of the 2024 election should he lose again.
"He has called for the ‘termination’ of parts of the Constitution," the letter states. "He said he wants to be a ‘dictator,’ and his clarification that he would only be a dictator for a day is not reassuring."
A Controversial Response from the Trump Campaign
The Trump campaign has responded to the criticism by portraying the letter as a partisan attack by former officials who are out of touch with the concerns of average Americans. Steven Cheung, the campaign’s communications director, told CNBC that "These are the same people who got our country into endless foreign wars and profited off of them while the American people suffered."
Cheung also defended Trump’s actions, claiming that "President Trump is the only President in the modern era not to get our country into any new wars," a statement which ignores the ongoing US involvement in conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The Stakes of the 2024 Election
This endorsement is significant because it represents the views of a large and influential group of national security experts who are deeply concerned about the direction of the country. It also reflects a growing trend of Republican officials publicly distancing themselves from Trump, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape.
The 2024 election is likely to be one of the most consequential in recent history. The choices of the candidates regarding national security and foreign policy will have a profound impact on the safety and well-being of Americans and people around the world. This endorsement by former national security officials sheds light on the deep concerns surrounding Donald Trump’s candidacy and the potential danger he poses to American democracy. The upcoming election presents a critical crossroads for the nation, with the choice between experienced and stable leadership or potentially dangerous and divisive rhetoric. The outcome will determine the course of the country for years to come.
