Trump Criticizes Powell After He Says He Wont Support the Presidents Reelection Bid
President Donald Trump on June 7 criticized former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and said he would not “in any way” support the presidents reelection bid in November.
Powell, a Republican, told CNN on Sunday that Trump “lies all the time,” has “drifted away” from the U.S. Constitution, and poses a danger to American democracy, as he joined a number of Republicans and military leaders criticizing the president amid nationwide protests in response to the death of George Floyd.
“I cannot in any way support President Trump this year,” said Powell, a retired general who served as George W. Bushs secretary of state.
“We have a Constitution and we have to follow that Constitution and the president has drifted away from it,” Powell told CNNs Jake Tapper on “State of the Union,” referring to the treatment of demonstrators participating in protests nationwide over the death of Floyd.
Powell added that he is “very close to Joe Biden on a social matter and on a political matter.”
“I worked with him for 35, 40 years, and he is now the candidate and I will be voting for him,” he said, signaling that he will snub Trump for the second time. In 2016, Powell voted for Trumps then-rival and Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton. He also voted twice for former President Obama.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) noted on Twitter, “I respect Colin Powells service and hes entitled to his opinion, like every other American. But he hasnt voted Republican for sixteen years.”
The criticism comes as the nation faces a trio of crises: widespread protests over police violence against black people, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, and a sharp economic downturn.
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. Didnt Powell say that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction?” They didnt, but off we went to WAR!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
In response, Trump took to Twitter shortly after the interview to call Powell “a real stiff” and former Vice President Joe Biden “another stiff.”
“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,” the president wrote. “Didnt Powell say that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? They didnt, but off we went to WAR!”
Powell was instrumental in building the case for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, for which he has subsequently been widely criticized.
“Somebody please tell highly overrated Colin Powell that I will have gotten almost 300 Federal Judges approved (a record), Two Great Supreme Court Justices, rebuilt our once depleted Military, Choice for Vets, Biggest Ever Tax & Regulation Cuts, Saved Healthcare & 2A, & much more!” Trump continued.
The president later accused him of being “weak” and claimed the retired general “gave away everything to everybody—so bad for the USA.”
Colin Powell was a pathetic interview today on Fake News CNN. In his time, he was weak & gave away everything to everybody – so bad for the USA. Also got the “weapons of mass destruction” totally wrongRead More From Source
