Written by Elijah Shoults
When Trump was first running for president in 2016 he would boast about hiring the “best people”, filling his Cabinet with “top-of-the-line professionals”. Leaving aside the fact that he had more turnover among his Cabinet secretaries than any other president in recent history, how worried should we be that so much of his Cabinet and other members of his administration either won’t endorse him or outright oppose his reelection?
Let’s start with his own Vice President, Mike Pence:
“Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And that’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign.”
“President Trump was wrong, I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day (Jan. 6th), and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Trump’s first Secretary of Defense, retired 4-star general James Mattis:
“His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice.”
Trump’s second Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, said that Trump was unfit for office because “he puts himself first, and I think anybody running for office should put the country first.” Esper also reports that Trump wanted protesters shot in 2020.
John Kelly, Marine Corps general and Trump’s chief of staff, recalls numerous accounts of Trump dishonoring our veterans.
His third National Security Advisor, General H.R. McMaster, said that Trump’s “ego and love of self… drove him to abandon his oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution,’ a president’s highest obligation.”
His fourth National Security Advisor, John Bolton, said that “Trump really cares only about retribution for himself, and it will consume much of a second term.”
Sarah Matthews, former deputy press secretary:
“When we have a candidate on the ballot who will not uphold the Constitution, then I feel like I have to put policy aside … and I wanna support the person who is best suited to defeat Donald Trump.”
Stephanie Grisham served in multiple roles at Trump’s White House and described herself as a “true believer”. However, after seeing him when the cameras were off she eventually concluded that he had “no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth”.
These aren’t just random people or Democratic activists, these are the people that Trump chose to employ and who worked with him behind the scenes. Has any other president ever had so many members of his administration turn against him? There is a rising chorus of Republicans who have made the courageous decision to put country ahead of party and reject Donald Trump. At rvat.org (Republican Voters Against Trump) you can see a host of testimonials from Republicans about why they can’t support this man who is a clear danger to this country:
“Kamala is a prosecutor. She is gonna uphold the rule of law. Trump tries to avoid the rule of law.”
Beth – Virginia
“He’s a bad example for America, Americans, and our kids.”
Kyle – Alabama
“I don’t think he believes in God.”
Joanna – Florida
“Trump’s just blatant disrespect for veterans in the military is well documented.”
Matthew – Pennsylvania
“His words incited that insurrection and his inaction spoke volumes.”
Jeffery – California