Ex-Bush Admin Officials Join Chorus Criticizing Trump’s Hostile Response To Protesters

U.S. President George W. Bush appears with Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, May 28, 2004. Photo by Brooks Kraft/Corbis
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell listen as US President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark speak to the press in the Rose Garden at the Wh... National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell listen as US President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark speak to the press in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Former Bush administration officials Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice joined fellow White House alums James Mattis, Mike Mullen and John Allen in criticizing President Trump’s aggressive response to protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Last week, three former White House officials — which so far include Trump’s former Defense Secretary James Mattis as well as Obama administration alums Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. John Allen — issued scathing rebukes against the President’s call for the National Guard to “dominate” protesters amid nationwide unrest.

Here’s what the former Bush administration secretaries of state had to say:

Colin Powell

On Sunday morning, Powell told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he was “very happy” with the former generals’ criticism against Trump because “we have a Constitution” that the President has “drifted away from.”

Powell went on to say that he “could not possibly” vote for Trump due to being “deeply troubled” by his remarks stoking the Obama “birther” conspiracy and insulting Gold Star mothers, John McCain, immigrants and “anybody who dared to speak against him.”

“And that is dangerous for our democracy. It is dangerous for our country,” Powell said. “And I think what we’re seeing now, the most massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life, I think this suggests that the country is getting wise to this, and we’re not going to put up with it anymore.”

Powell went on to add that “you have to agree” with Mattis’ criticism of Trump because “he is insulting us throughout the world. ”

Shortly after Powell’s interview on CNN aired, Trump took to Twitter to slam him for announcing that he plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in November.

Watch Powell’s remarks below:

Condoleezza Rice

Rice shared a similar sentiment on CBS, saying that she has “enormous respect” for Mattis and that he “spoke to something that he needed to speak to.”

Rice went on to say that she’s “really grateful” for the protesters “who are going out now and saying, no, that is not acceptable,” before being asked whether she agrees with the President’s call for governors to “dominate” protesters by activating the National Guard.

Rice responded that she “would absolutely advise against it, particularly at this time.” She later argued that “our military isn’t trained to do this” because it is “trained for the battlefield” and that “this isn’t a battlefield in that sense.”

Watch Rice’s remarks below:

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Notable Replies

  1. The fix is in. The GOP is officially looking past Fat Don and trying to salvage the wreckage–of the Party, and of their own future employability.

    And it might work.

  2. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Rice responded that she “would absolutely advise against it, particularly at this time.” She later argued that “our military isn’t trained to do this” because it is “trained for the battlefield” and that “this isn’t a battlefield in that sense.”

    Yes, I suppose. And how ‘bout it’s fucking unconstitutional, Condi? Huh? How about that?

    I’m just going to give you a heads up, a memo, if you will, though I’m sure you’ll ignore it: “Real Americans determined to strike back in November”. Bet on it.

  3. Rice should have gone to prison with the rest of the Bush Cheney cabal.
    And I don’t give a rats ass how well she’s aged. Wealthy women usually age well

  4. It’s about time. Not a portrait in courage in sight.

  5. Avatar for tena tena says:

    One thing at a time.

    First we deal with Trump.

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