Trump’s Former Allies Could Hold the Key to His Defeat
Kamala Harris could still eke out a victory on her own. She has run a smart and robust campaign, though at times in my view one that’s too cautious. She has had to walk a tightrope between standing with an unpopular president with whom she’s serving and showing herself to have new ideas, fresh energy, independence on international issues, and a commitment to the future.
Harris has emphasized character—the chasm between her character and that of her opponent. Yet, too many Americans seem fixated on two issues: the economy and immigration—issues that Donald Trump has distorted to his advantage. Harris has countered with her own more reasonable economic proposals, and she has made clear that she supports a bipartisan and rather sweeping immigration bill. Yet, wrong or not, most believe Trump is more likely to fix these problems. She also has strong and well-articulated positions on a range of other issues (women’s rights, health care, child care, and more), yet for many voters these seem secondary.
Yes, Harris can still win. But the issue of character – and to me it is absolutely the only issue – has to stick.
At this point, one thing might do more to hammer home that issue than anything else. If Donald Trump truly is a “fascist” with Hitleresque tendencies -- as Mark Milley, former Chair of the Joint chiefs of Staff; John Kelly, Trump’s former Chief of Staff and a four-star Marine general; and Mark Esper, Trump’s former Secretary of Defense, among others, assert – than they need to do more to raise the alarm. Confessing this view to individual reporters in individual interviews won’t cut it
If they believe our national security is at stake under a second Trump presidency, if they believe our personal freedoms are at stake under a second Trump presidency, if they believe our Constitution is on the line during a second Trump presidency, they need to come together to say so. Not in a signed public statement but in a nationally televised, joint press conference at which they come prepared to offer evidence in the form of conversations and specific actions that demonstrate the basis of their fears.
The stakes are enormous. So are the risks for each personally. Trump has ramped up threats against all his perceived “enemies” in recent days. He repeatedly speaks of the “enemy within.” He has said Milley should be court-martialed and executed.
Yes, it will take courage. But these men, especially Milley and Kelly, are warriors. They are leaders. This should be their moment in history. It may be necessary to save our Republic.
Jerry Lanson is a writing consultant at Harvard Kennedy School. He is a professor emeritus at Emerson College.