Coalition of nearly 500 former senior military, civilian leaders endorse Biden for president

A large group of generals, admirals and former national security officials from both parties endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, saying the “current president” is not up to “the enormous responsibilities of his office.”

In a letter addressed to “Our Fellow Citizens,” the 489 signatories include 22 four-star military officers. The document never mentions President Donald Trump by name and says he has failed “to meet challenges large or small.”

Joe Biden remembers how America’s NATO allies rushed to her side after 9/11; how Kurds fought by our side to defeat ISIS; & how Japan & South Korea have been steadfast partners in countering N. Korean & Chinese provocations. He would never sell out our allies to placate despots. pic.twitter.com/VLhwTOi3pp

— National Security Leaders for Biden (@NSLforBiden) September 24, 2020

The letter includes former Obama administration Defense Secretaries Ash Carter, Chuck Hagel and Leon Panetta, along with former Navy Secretary and NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, who served under both former Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush. It also features Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear, who oversaw all U.S. forces in the Pacific from 2012 to 2015, and Adm. Harry Ulrich, who commanded U.S. naval forces in Europe during President George W. Bush’s administration.

Proud to sign this. Never before have so many fmr military & nat’l security leaders, incl lifelong Rs, endorsed. The letter explains why ⁦@JoeBiden⁩ will rebuild American leadership & listen to facts & science to confront nat sec threats like climate https://t.co/Z5kv73iv8l

— Jason Bordoff (@JasonBordoff) September 24, 2020

The group, which calls itself the National Security Leaders for Biden, also includes former defense secretaries, ambassadors, and a number of high-profile Republicans.

“We are former public servants who have devoted our careers, and in many cases risked our lives, for the United States,” the letter says. “We are generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans and Democrats, and Independents. We love our country.

“Unfortunately, we also fear for it.”

Biden, it says, “has the character, principles, wisdom, and leadership necessary to address a world on fire. That is why Joe Biden must be the next President of the United States; why we vigorously support his election; and why we urge our fellow citizens to do the same.”

When asked reaction to the letter during a White House briefing later Thursday, spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany said Trump’s record “speaks for itself.”

“Our military men and women, our veterans love this president for a very distinct reason. Under Obama-Biden, sequestration really gutted our military. You had the Navy at its smallest point ever, and the other military branches were absolutely gutted,” she said. “Then you had President Trump who came in and secured a record amount of funding for our military and our Department of Defense and built up our military.”