A bipartisan group of 741 national security leaders, including retired generals, admirals, ambassadors, and former defense secretaries, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president while denouncing her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. In a letter addressed to the American people, they assert that Harris is “prepared and strategic” while Trump is “impulsive and ill-informed.”
“We are former public servants who swore an oath to the Constitution. Many of us risked our lives for it,” the letter begins. “We are retired generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors, and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We are loyal to the ideals of our nation—like freedom, democracy, and the rule of law—not to any one individual or party.”
The letter, signed by all 741 individuals, was organized by the nonprofit National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). The signatories include over 230 general and flag officers, 15 retired four-star generals and admirals, 10 cabinet secretaries, and 148 ambassadors. The impressive list of endorsements underscores the growing bipartisan support for Harris within the national security community.
Although the group acknowledges that its members do not all share the same beliefs, they agree on one fundamental point: “America’s national security requires a serious and capable Commander-in-Chief.” They emphasize the importance of preserving American democracy and, in a united voice, state, “That is why we, the undersigned, proudly endorse Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States.”
The letter contrasts Harris’s leadership with Trump’s, framing the upcoming election as a choice between “serious leadership and vengeful impulsiveness” and “democracy and authoritarianism.” They warn that while Harris defends America’s democratic ideals, Trump endangers them.
Among the most notable figures endorsing Harris are former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark (Ret.), former CIA and NSA Director General Michael Hayden (Ret.), and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Several high-profile Republicans also signed the letter, including former Defense Secretaries William Cohen and Chuck Hagel.
NSL4A’s website includes a section titled “Donald Trump’s Own Words,” warning that “the Constitution was designed to prevent the type of leader Donald Trump wants to be.” Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, one of the signatories, summed up his support, stating, “I’m for freedom. I’m for liberty. I’m for democracy. Harris is too.”
This unprecedented coalition of bipartisan national security leaders signals a growing divide over leadership in the 2024 election, with serious concerns raised about Trump’s ability to protect the nation’s core democratic values.