Republicans Supporting Joe Biden? Colin Powell Endorses Democrat, While Former Bush Officials Turn Against Trump

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday that he is voting for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the November election. Powell, who has spoken at the Republican National Convention, claims the United States’ position in the global community has been “demonized” under President Trump, especially during the protests over the death of George Floyd.

"I'm 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," Powell told CNN host Jake Tapper. Powell said he agreed with comments from former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis this week that Trump is dividing the country.

"You have to agree with it. I mean, look at what he has done to divide us," Powell said of Mattis' comments. "I agree with all of my former colleagues. I'm proud of what they're doing. I'm proud that they were willing to take the risk of speaking honesty and speaking truth to those who are not speaking truth.”

Powell had served as Secretary of State under former President George W. Bush. and as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Condoleeza Rice, who succeeded Powell in the Secretary of State role under George W. Bush, also criticized Trump on Sunday but did not say whether she would support Biden.

“I've heard the president talk about the resilience of Americans. I'd love to hear more of that. Twitter and tweeting are not great ways for complex thoughts, for complex messages,” Rice said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “When the president speaks, it needs to be from a place of thoughtfulness, from a place of having really honed the message so that it reaches all Americans.”

Powell is not the only former Bush administration official who has aligned with Biden. A new PAC has been formed called 43 Alumni For Biden, according to a Tuesday filing with the Federal Election Commission. Karen Kirksey, who worked in the Treasury Department under George W. Bush, is listed as the treasurer of the PAC.

Trump has been at odds with George W. Bush for not making public statements defending him during the 2019 impeachment trial. The two have had little public interaction since Trump was elected in November 2016.

A NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll on Sunday revealed that Biden had 49% support, compared to 42% for Trump. The general election will take place on Nov. 3.