This series lists prominent Republicans, Donald Trump’s associates and senior staff of previous Republican presidents now opposing Trump’s reelection.
Click here for parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two. This is part twenty-three.
Click on the name for the source of the quote.
126. General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the Joint Special Operations Command under George W Bush:
"I don't think he [Trump] tells the truth ... I would ask every American to stand in front of that mirror and say, what are we about? If we want to be governed by someone we wouldn't do a business deal with because they're their background is so shady, if we're willing to do that then that's in conflict with who I think we are."
127. Admiral Steve Abbot, naval officer who served Republican presidents Reagan, Bush senior and Bush junior:
“The loss of life around the world [from Covid-19] is staggering ... The national leadership is manifestly incompetent ... The deaths of tens of thousands of Americans who did not need to die will be tied to his [Trump’s] abject failure to provide the leadership we need.” [3 April 2020]
128. Rear Admiral Kenneth Bernard, naval commander and biosecurity expert who served under George W. Bush:
"This is not a partisan issue. There needs to be a central command presence on this. There needs to be a person who can act as a focal point for tests, personal protective equipment and countermeasures — acquisition and distribution. Right now, it's too fragmented and fractured, and that's counterproductive."
129. Thomas J Christensen, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs for George W Bush:
“The tragedy is also present in Trump’s race-baiting description of COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’ ... Such deflection and scapegoating might impress the Republican political base at home but will almost certainly further harm America’s reputation on the international stage and make future cooperation with China harder to establish.” [May 2020]
130. James Glassman, undersecretary of state under George W Bush:
“Lack of leadership has led to the deaths of 170,000 Americans. There's no excuse in the country with the best health scientists in the world.” [20 August 2020]
131. Elizabeth Neumann, Trump’s assistant secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy at the Department of Homeland Security:
“I’m sorry, Mr President. You were hired to handle America’s worst day. And you have absolutely failed. I do not think we can afford four more years of President Trump. We are less safe today because of his leadership. We will continue to be less safe as long as he is in control.” [August 2020]
132. General Michael Hayden, retired US Air Force four-star general and former director of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency.
“I have used the Russian word polezni durak, the useful idiot, the useful tool. In other words, a naif. It's actually a term of art. It's the naive individual who is exploited by the Soviets then, the Russians now, even though they may hold him [Trump] in personal contempt.” [3 May, 2018]
And from the archives:
133. Tom Coleman, former Republican congressman for of Missouri:
"At some point you have to put country over party. I think he [Trump] is dangerous. I think he is mentally and emotionally unfit to be president." [7 October 2016]
To be continued ...
Readers’ tips in the comments are invited.
