September 10 :
In a letter made public on September 9, a group of ten retired senior U.S. military officers praised U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming that she is the sole presidential contender qualified to lead the country and describing her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, as "a danger to our national security and democracy."
In their joint statement, Retired Rear Admiral Michael Smith and Retired General Larry Ellis were among many who condemned Trump's remarks about service members and his "chaotic approach" to Afghanistan in the lead-up to the US pullout, which included striking a deal with the Taliban that permitted 5,000 of their fighters to rejoin the fight.
On the other hand, they stated that Harris "has demonstrated her ability to take on the most difficult national security challenges in the Situation Room and on the international stage," referring to instances such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a letter released on X by Harris' campaign, they stated, "Harris is the best — and only — presidential candidate in this race who is fit to serve as our commander in chief." On the day of the historic November 5th election, the Democratic nominee for vice president and Trump, who is seeking reelection after serving from 2017 to early 2021, are locked in a close race. At stake is the fate of American democracy.
The letter and the new Harris campaign ad, which featured former Trump officials warning of significant dangers posed by a second Trump presidency, were released at the same time, just before the debate on September 10th. "Donald Trump pledged in 2016 that his White House staff would include of the finest individuals. Their message to the United States is now clear. This president is unfit to serve a second term, according to Trump's vice president, the advertisement claims. The film included remarks made by Mike Pence, Mike Esper, John Bolton, General Mark Milley, and Pence, all of whom were VPs or Defense Secretaries under Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson will be hosting a congressional gold medal ceremony to remember the thirteen service members died in the August 2021 tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the letter arrives the day before. Congressmen issued a report on Monday, adding fuel to the fire that Trump and his Republican colleagues have been using to cast Harris as the architect of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Retired military officials blasted Trump in a letter, saying he "failed to take responsibility for his own role in putting service members in harm's way" due to his deal to free Taliban fighters without involving the Afghan government and his failure to leave a withdrawal plan after his 2020 election loss.
