More than 100 GOP national security figures endorse Harris

More than 100 Republican former national security figures, as well as members of Congress, endorsed Vice President Harris on Wednesday, citing former President Trump’s “demonstrated chaotic and unethical behavior.”

The letter lists a litany of rationales for endorsing Harris and criticizes Trump, saying “she possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald Trump does not.”

“Donald Trump’s susceptibility to flattery and manipulation by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, unusual affinity for other authoritarian leaders, contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior, and chaotic national security decision-making are dangerous qualities,” the letter states.

“He is unfit to serve again as President, or indeed in any office of public trust.”

Signatories included former Sen. William Cohen (R-Maine), who served as Defense secretary under former President Clinton; former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who served under former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush; former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, who served under Bush; former FBI and CIA Director William Webster, who served under former Presidents Reagan and George. H. W. Bush; and former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, who served under President George W. Bush.

Ex-GOP lawmakers signing the letter included former Reps. Charles Boustany (La.), Barbara Comstock (Va.), Mickey Edwards (Okla.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) and Christopher Shays (Conn.).

The group endorses Harris as she has “consistently championed the rule of law, democracy, and our constitutional principles,” agreed to sign a bipartisan border security bill, and has expressed support for U.S. allies while condemning adversaries, the letter reads.

Signatories of the letter stretch from people who served in the Trump administration to as far back as the Reagan administration and include outspoken critics of the 45th president as well as those who have been less vocal about him.

Former high-ranking officials from various departments, members of the military and intelligence community, and ambassadors and other high-level State Department officials are among those to sign on.

The letter likewise cites Trump’s incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, quoting former Vice President Mike Pence, who said “anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.” 

“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. In our view, by inciting the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and defending those who committed it, he has violated his oath of office and brought danger to our country,” the letter reads.

It is the latest in a string of Harris endorsements from GOP figures. A group of more than 230 former Republican staffers also recently endorsed Harris, as did former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who served under former President George W. Bush.

The letter nods to the numerous Republicans they say will likely still support Trump or who might have concerns about Harris policies.

“Any potential concerns pale in comparison to Donald Trump’s demonstrated chaotic and unethical behavior and disregard for our Republic’s time-tested principles of constitutional governance,” the group writes.

“His unpredictable nature is not the negotiating virtue he extols. To the contrary, in matters of national security, his demeanor invites equally erratic behavior from our adversaries, which irresponsibly threatens reckless and dangerous global consequences.”