Kamala Harris receives support from hundreds of national security experts

BOSTON — Hundreds of current and former national security experts have signed a letter endorsing the election of Kamala Harris in 2024, arguing for the need for “serious leadership” rather than “vindictive impulsiveness.”

In a letter released on Sunday, the more than 700 members of National Security Leaders for America (NSL) said re-electing former President Donald Trump would be a serious mistake. The “nonpartisan organization is comprised of individuals who have served in a variety of senior leadership positions, including all six branches of the military, federal and state elected offices, and various government departments and agencies.”

“Mr. Trump is threatening our democratic system; he has said so himself. He has called for the 'repeal' of parts of the Constitution. He said he wanted to be a 'dictator,' and his clarification that he would only be a dictator for one day is not reassuring. He has undermined confidence in our elections by repeating lies without evidence about 'millions' of fraudulent votes,” they wrote.

The list includes former Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, William Cohen and William Perry; former CIA Directors John Brennan, John Deutch and General Michael Hayden; former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry; and more than a dozen former Cabinet Secretaries and agency heads.

They were joined by more than 100 former and retired ambassadors, hundreds of retired admirals and generals, and dozens of other high-ranking former military leaders.

The group, made up of Democrats, Republicans and independents, says they have sworn an oath to the U.S. Constitution and are not loyal to any one person.

“We do not agree on everything, but we all hold to two core principles. First, we believe that America's national security requires a serious and capable Commander in Chief. Second, we believe that American democracy is invaluable. Every generation has a responsibility to defend it. That is why we, the undersigned, proudly support Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States,” they wrote.

The group further quotes former President Ronald Reagan, who called the United States a “shining city on a hill” and warned: “In this election, one of President Reagan's more dire warnings is equally relevant. 'Freedom,' he said, 'is never more than a generation away from extinction.'”

“Our support of Vice President Harris is a commitment to freedom and an act of patriotism. It is a commitment to democratic ideals, to competence, and to unflagging optimism about America's future. We hope you will join us in voting for her,” they wrote.

The Trump team responded by targeting Harris' other endorsements and pointing to a recent endorsement by the National Treasury Employees Union as proof that the vice president is a “weak, failed and dangerously liberal candidate.”

“The bottom line is that this endorsement, and the Harris campaign's efforts to publicize it, demonstrates exactly how desperate and out of touch with reality she is,” they wrote.