Former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell said on Saturday that he will not be supporting President Donald Trump’s reelection.
“I certainly cannot, in any way, support President Trump this year,” Powell said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We have a Constitution and we have to follow that Constitution and the president has drifted away from it.”
Powell, a Republican, instead said he intends to vote for the Democrat candidate.
“I’m very close to Joe Biden in a social matter and in a political matter,” Powell said. “I’ve worked with him for 35, 40 years. And he is now the candidate and I will be voting for him.”
Powell said he would be speaking for Biden, but would not be campaigning for him.
Powell had also supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 instead of Trump, who he said he couldn’t bring himself to vote for.
Trump responded to Powell’s comments on Sunday morning, saying, “Colin Powell, a real stiff who was very responsible for getting us into the disastrous Middle East Wars, just announced he will be voting for another stiff, Sleepy Joe Biden. Didn’t Powell say that Iraq had ‘weapons of mass destruction?’ They didn’t, but off we went to WAR!”
Colin Powell, a real stiff who was very responsible for getting us into the disastrous Middle East Wars, just announced he will be voting for another stiff, Sleepy Joe Biden. Didn’t Powell say that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction?” They didn’t, but off we went to WAR!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
Powell criticized Trump on Saturday for his recent handling of the riots that sparked from the death of George Floyd, and accused Trump of being divisive, offending U.S. allies, and more. He agreed with recent comments made by former Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis, who alleged that Trump was the first president in his lifetime who didn’t try to unite people.
“I think what we’re seeing now, this massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life, I think it suggests the country is getting wise to this and we’re not going to put up with it anymore,” Powell said.
Powell is the latest Republican to come out in opposition to Trump. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said he will not be supporting Trump. Former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are also expected to vote against Trump.
Biden released a tweet on Sunday thanking Powell for his endorsement.
“This isn’t about politics. This is about the future of our country. Grateful for your support, Secretary Powell,” Biden said.
This isn’t about politics. This is about the future of our country. Grateful for your support, Secretary Powell. https://t.co/0xLPyXiIPb
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 7, 2020
