A group of 10 retired senior US military personnel who held senior government positions announced their support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
In an open letter signed by retired General Larry Ellis and retired Rear Admiral Michael Smith, they sharply criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, calling him a “threat to national security and democracy”.
The letter points to Trump's comments disparaging service members, as well as his “chaotic approach” to Afghanistan before the US withdrawal, including the deal struck with the Taliban that allowed 5,000 of the group's fighters to return to the battlefield.
The military emphasizes that Harris has proven her ability to address key national security challenges, both in the Situation Center and on the international stage – from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
They state that Harris is “the best and only presidential candidate suitable for commander-in-chief”, and the letter was published on the social platform “X“ from her campaign headquarters.
The letter coincided with a new Harris campaign ad in which former Trump staffers warn of the high risks of a possible second Trump presidency. The ad features speeches from former Vice President Mike Pence, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, National Security Adviser John Bolton and General Mark Milley.