More than 100 former Republican officials, many with backgrounds in national security or past GOP presidential administrations, have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed concerns about a potential second Trump term.
“We understand that many Republicans prefer Donald Trump to Kamala Harris for various reasons. We respect and do not dismiss those concerns,” their letter, released Wednesday, stated. “However, these concerns pale in comparison to Donald Trump’s demonstrated chaotic and unethical behavior and his disregard for our Republic’s principles of constitutional governance.”
The signatories emphasized that Trump’s “unpredictability is not the negotiating advantage he claims.” Instead, they argued, his behavior “encourages erratic responses from adversaries, which risks reckless and dangerous global consequences.”
The letter follows a previous endorsement by over 200 former GOP officials, including figures who served under President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Senator Mitt Romney. The Cheney family—former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney—have also recently indicated their support for Harris.
The letter, primarily signed by officials from the Reagan and Bush administrations, included some notable Republican former lawmakers, such as Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Barbara Comstock of Virginia. In total, there were 111 signatures, though some were repeats from an earlier letter. The signatories also included two individuals who had signed the October 2020 letter from intelligence officials claiming the Hunter Biden laptop story was likely Russian disinformation.
A Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the signatories, claiming they represent “the same people who led the country into endless foreign wars while profiting at the expense of the American people.” He added, “President Trump is the only modern president who didn’t get the U.S. involved in new wars.”
The letter praised Harris for her commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and constitutional principles. It also emphasized her support for NATO, Israel, and a bipartisan border security act. The signatories noted Harris’ pledge to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet, promoting bipartisanship and diverse views.
In contrast, the letter condemned Trump’s cozy relationships with adversaries like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, and criticized his chaotic national security decision-making.
On Monday, Trump ally Tulsi Gabbard praised Trump’s efforts with U.S. adversaries, calling it “the tough work” necessary for successful diplomacy.
The letter concluded that Trump cannot be trusted “to support and defend the Constitution,” while expressing confidence that Harris would. It urged Americans to support her and argued that Trump should never hold public office again. The Harris campaign has recently focused on targeting Republican voters through media and grassroots efforts, with spokesperson Ian Sams noting, “We are proud of the bipartisan momentum behind Vice President Harris.”
