Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal said Sunday he is voting for Vice President Harris because of her “character,” sidestepping questions about former President Trump’s fitness for the highest office.
“I think character is what a person does when they’re under pressure. It is a combination of their deep-seated beliefs, the things, their core values, and the discipline they have to execute those, to live up to them,” McChrystal said in an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” with Robert Costa.
“So I think when we look at Kamala Harris, we look at her history, she came up as a prosecutor, an attorney general, into the Senate. She has lived a number of experiences that I think build in someone the kind of character that’s going to be necessary in the presidency,” he continued.
McChrystal endorsed Harris in an op-ed in The New York Times on Thursday, touting the vice president’s character while avoiding naming her political opponent.
In the Sunday interview, Costa pressed McChrystal on the numerous national security and military officials who have thrown their support behind the vice president over the former president.
Asked directly whether he thinks Trump is fit for office, McChrystal did not mention the former president and GOP nominee.
“I believe that Vice President Harris is fit to lead the country in the presidency. I think she’s got the character,” McChrystal replied.
Costa pressed again: “Is he fit for office or not?”
“OK, Bob, let’s be honest. Why would a retired military officer come on to endorse his opponent?” McChrystal said.
“You tell me,” Costa countered.
“Because I think character is very important, and so I’m voting for character. I’m voting for Kamala Harris,” McChrystal said.
McChrystal has previously criticized the former president. During an interview in 2018, he said he would turn down an offer to join the Trump administration and said, “I don’t think he tells the truth.” He also said he believed Trump was immoral.
The GOP nominee lashed out at the retired general several days after the interview, writing in a post on the social platform now known as X, “‘General’ McChrystal got fired like a dog by Obama. Last assignment a total bust. Known for big, dumb mouth. Hillary lover!”
Ten retired top military officials have backed Harris over Trump in the presidential race, as have hundreds of top national security officials.