Tom Ridge is doubling down on his pledge not to support Donald Trump.
The former Pennsylvania Governor and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is one of 50 signatories of a letter from Republican national security officials expressing grave doubts about the GOP nominee.
Ridge’s successor as DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff also signed the note as did former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden.
The letter was posted by the New York Times and the full text is included below:
STATEMENT BY FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS
The undersigned individuals have all served in senior national security
and/or foreign policy positions in Republican Administrations, from
Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. We have worked directly on
national security issues with these Republican Presidents and/or their
principal advisers during wartime and other periods of crisis, through
successes and failures. We know the personal qualities required of a
President of the United States.
None of us will vote for Donald Trump.
From a foreign policy perspective, Donald Trump is not qualified to be
President and Commander-in-Chief. Indeed, we are convinced that he
would be a dangerous President and would put at risk our country’s
national security and well-being.
Most fundamentally, Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and
experience to be President. He weakens U.S. moral authority as the
leader of the free world. He appears to lack basic knowledge about and
belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions,
including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent
judiciary.
In addition, Mr. Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he has little
understanding of America’s vital national interests, its complex
diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances, and the democratic
values on which U.S. foreign policy must be based. At the same time,
he persistently compliments our adversaries and threatens our allies and
friends. Unlike previous Presidents who had limited experience in
foreign affairs, Mr. Trump has shown no interest in educating
himself. He continues to display an alarming ignorance of basic facts of
contemporary international politics. Despite his lack of knowledge, Mr.
Trump claims that he understands foreign affairs and “knows more
about ISIS than the generals do.”
Mr. Trump lacks the temperament to be President. In our experience, a
President must be willing to listen to his advisers and department heads;
must encourage consideration of conflicting views; and must
acknowledge errors and learn from them. A President must be
disciplined, control emotions, and act only after reflection and careful
deliberation. A President must maintain cordial relationships with
leaders of countries of different backgrounds and must have their respect
and trust.
In our judgment, Mr. Trump has none of these critical qualities. He is
unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not
encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts
impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our
closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous
qualities in an individual who aspires to be President and Commanderin-Chief,
with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
We understand that many Americans are profoundly frustrated with the
federal government and its inability to solve pressing domestic and
international problems. We also know that many have doubts about
Hillary Clinton, as do many of us. But Donald Trump is not the answer
to America’s daunting challenges and to this crucial election. We are
convinced that in the Oval Office, he would be the most reckless
President in American history.
Donald B. Ayer
Former Deputy Attorney General
John B. Bellinger III
Former Legal Adviser to the Department of State; former Legal Adviser
to the National Security Council, The White House
Robert Blackwill
Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Planning, The
White House
Michael Chertoff
Former Secretary of Homeland Security; former Assistant Attorney
General for the Criminal Division, Department of Justice
Eliot A. Cohen
Former Counselor of the Department of State
Eric Edelman
Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; former National Security
Advisor to the Vice President, The White House
Gary Edson
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, The White House
Richard Falkenrath
Former Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, The White House
Peter Feaver
Former Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security
Council, The White House
Richard Fontaine
Former Associate Director for Near East Affairs, National Security
Council, The White House
Jendayi Frazer
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
African Affairs; former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Aaron Friedberg
Former Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President, The
White House
David Gordon
Former Director of Policy Planning, Department of State
Michael Green
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia,
National Security Council, The White House
Brian Gunderson
Former Chief of Staff, Department of State
Paul Haenle
Former Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council, The
White House
Michael Hayden
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency; former Director, National
Security Agency
Carla A. Hills
Former U.S. Trade Representative
John Hillen
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
William Inboden
Former Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security
Council, The White House
Reuben Jeffery III
Former Under Secretary of State for Economic Energy and Agricultural
Affairs; former Special Assistant to the President for International
Economic Affairs, National Security Council, The White House
James Jeffrey
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, The White House
Ted Kassinger
Former Deputy Secretary of Commerce
David Kramer
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor
James Langdon
Former Chairman, President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, The
White House
Peter Lichtenbaum
Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration
Mary Beth Long
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Clay Lowery
Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs;
former Director for International Finance, National Security Council,
The White House
Robert McCallum
Former Associate Attorney General; former Ambassador to Australia
Richard Miles
Former Director for North America, National Security Council, The
White House
Andrew Natsios
Former Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
John Negroponte
Former Director of National Intelligence; former Deputy Secretary of
State; former Deputy National Security Advisor
Meghan O’Sullivan
Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan
Dan Price
Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Tom Ridge
Former Secretary of Homeland Security; former Assistant to the
President for Homeland Security, The White House; former Governor of
Pennsylvania
Nicholas Rostow
Former Legal Adviser to the National Security Council, The White
House
Kori Schake
Former Director for Defense Strategy, National Security Council, The
White House
Kristen Silverberg
Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
Stephen Slick
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
Intelligence Programs, National Security Council, The White House
Shirin R. Tahir-Kheli
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
Democracy, Human Rights and International Operations, National
Security Council, The White House; former Ambassador and Senior
Advisor for Women’s Empowerment, Department of State
William H. Taft IV
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; former Ambassador to NATO
Larry D. Thompson
Former Deputy Attorney General
William Tobey
Former Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Department of Energy; former Director for CounterProliferation
Strategy, National Security Council, The White House
John Veroneau
Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
Kenneth Wainstein
Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism, The White House; former Assistant Attorney General
for National Security, Department of Justice
Matthew Waxman
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; former Director for
Contingency Planning and International Justice, National Security
Council, The White House
Dov Zakheim
Former Under Secretary of Defense
Roger Zakheim
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Philip Zelikow
Former Counselor of the Department of State
Robert Zoellick
Former U.S. Trade Representative; former Deputy Secretary of State
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10 Responses
While most of the co-signers strike me as career professionals rather that career politicians (not that party affiliation never influenced decisions) they were all complicit in creating a party (through a deaf dumb and blind method of operation) that brought Trump to the top of the ticket. Only now do they regret their actions and the results of their own silence since the Republican revolution of 94. While I applaud the signers for their efforts, each and every one brought this day upon themselves. You all had a hand (unwittingly?) in the creation of this Frankenstein your shaking torches and pitchforks at. In one way shape or form, the cosigners of the letter, helped embolden and broaden the “Archie Bunker” constituencies of not parties as well as the unaffiliated. While the letter was factual, and well written, you failed to include an apology for what you helped bring about with your own actions, and decades of assisted development.
DARN!! Serves the GOP right for allowing someone so ridiculous to be their nominee. At least these men and women of distiction have the courage of their convictions. Shame on any in the GOP who do not. Delco Rs, what say you?
LMAO. This is the fun part. Watching morons like “Bill” malign great Americans who are brave and smart. Folks who have served their Country (unlike Trump).
No doubt the Bush Romney wing of the Republican Party is still smarting from the voters rejection of Jeb. It is time to put aside hurt feelings for the good of America. These otherwise fine individuals malign themselves with this type of spiteful behavior. Shame on them personally criticizing anyone in such a fashion that they have never personally met or worked with in any meaningful way. While it may be unfair to assign the eight year Obama presidency as their legacy, they should reflect on the fact that their foreign policy record was less than impeccable.
These people are not too smart. Every day in every way they blatantly display their fear of losing power. There is not one on the list who did not play an integral part in bringing this country to its knees due to their corruption, incompetency or a combination of both.
Both Ridge and Chertoff profited from their failures as head of DHS. Chertoff must still be counting the profits from the body scan machines sold to and later rejected by TSA. Ridge put down the crayons used on his infamous color chart and directed his efforts so that illegal aliens could open bank accounts. Three guesses why that was important.
They really have become “The Radical GOP.” A far cry from my grandfather’s Republican Party (led by Reagan).
They think they can now just hand Trump a speech they would have handed to Jeb Bush and have him read it. It’s embarrassing watching Lincoln’s Party flounder like this. Hopefully, Hillary will start reaching out to moderate Republicans now and build a working relationship with them.
This is a time for unity. Can’t let Trump divide us. And we can’t let him win.
David – I totally agree. These people are going to help the Undecideds along to Camp Hillary.
gulag Pittsburgh-
One Trump surrogate was interviewed on CNN and claimed that these guys were all disgruntled that Trump wasn’t hiring them, looking to hire them, take their advice, etc.
Shockingly, Wolf Blitzer (the dumbest f*cking news anchor) actually pointed out that most of these people were long retired from their careers and NOT seeking work in a new administration, completely dismantling the Trump talking point.
But, seriously, when have we ever seen any presidential candidate get this criticism from factions within his own party?
Sure, Hillary is taking some flack from the Bern-outs who still won’t vote for her, but face it, most of these remaining wackos don’t vote Democrat anyway, nor are highly respected figures in any party.
These open letters against Trump are far more than backroom whispers, and have to give moderate voters, especially moderate Republicans, serious concerns about Trump.
Good for him. The Radical GOP needs to be stopped.
How do the Trumpies continue to claim Trump is the right man for the job after this devastating denunciation?