National Security Experts Warn Trump Is Endangering Americans By Blocking Transition During Pandemic
CEOs, Trump Donors Call For Transition To Begin
GOP Leaders Urge Trump To Accept Reality Of His Defeat
CEOs, Including Major Trump Donors, Are Calling for the Transition to Begin
- Hundreds Of Chief Business Executives Have Asked The Trump Administration To Immediately Acknowledge President-Elect Biden As The Victor And To Begin The Transition. “Concerned that President Trump’s refusal to accept the election results is hurting the country, more than 100 chief executives plan to ask the administration on Monday to immediately acknowledge Joseph R. Biden Jr. as the winner and begin the transition to a new administration.” [New York Times, 11/23/20]
- Even Stalwart Trump Supporters Like Stephen A. Schwarzman Of Blackstone Support A Transition. “One prominent member of the partnership who didn’t sign the letter is Stephen A. Schwarzman, the chief executive of Blackstone, who is a stalwart Trump supporter. However, Mr. Schwarzman said in a statement that ‘the outcome is very certain today and the country should move on.’ ‘I supported President Trump and the strong economic path he built,’ he added. ‘Like many in the business community, I am now ready to help President-elect Biden and his team as they confront the significant challenges of rebuilding our post-COVID economy.’” [New York Times, 11/23/20]
- Larry Merlo, Chief Executive Of CVS Health: “It’s Time For The Transition To Proceed.” “Corporate executives, who are usually allergic to political statements, are saying out loud what most of Mr. Trump’s supporters have so far refused to acknowledge. ‘Vice President Biden was fairly elected as our next president, and it’s time for the transition to proceed,’ said Larry Merlo, the chief executive of CVS Health.” [New York Times, 11/20/20]
- Thomas Donohue, Chief Executive Of The US Chamber Of Commerce: “[The Trump Administration] Should Not Delay The Transition A Moment Longer.” “‘President-elect Biden and the team around him have a wealth of executive branch experience that should allow them to hit the ground running,’ Thomas Donohue, the chief executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement to Axios. ‘While the Trump administration can continue litigating to confirm election outcomes, for the sake of Americans’ safety and well-being, it should not delay the transition a moment longer.’” [New York Times, 11/20/20]
Republicans Are Urging Trump to Concede and Facilitate Biden Transition
- Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD): “Stop Golfing And Concede.” “If you had done your job, America’s governors wouldn’t have been forced to fend for themselves to find tests in the middle of a pandemic, as we successfully did in Maryland. Stop golfing and concede.” [Twitter, @GovLarryHogan, 11/22/20]
- Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): “It Is Time To Begin The Full And Normal Transition Process.” “In a statement Sunday evening that came minutes after members of the Trump campaign announced the departure of Sidney Powell from the legal team, Murkowski said that the president’s claims had been found by multiple judges to be ‘without merit.’ ‘A pressure campaign on state legislators to influence the electoral outcome is not only unprecedented but inconsistent with our democratic process,’ Murkowski said in the statement released through Twitter. ‘It is time to begin the full and formal transition process,’ the Alaska senator concluded.” [The Hill, 11/22/20]
- Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND): It Is “Past Time To Start A Transition.” “Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said on Sunday that it was ‘past time to start a transition’ to a Biden administration, adding that he would ‘rather have a president that has more than one day to prepare.’ The GOP senator told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ host Chuck Todd that President Trump had the right to contest the election results through the legal system but also acknowledged an incoming Biden presidency.” [The Hill, 11/22/20]
- Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: “As Much As I’m A Strong Republican And I Love My Party, It’s The Country That Has To Come First.” “‘Listen,’ Christie concluded, ‘I have been a supporter of the President’s. I voted for him twice, but elections have consequences, and we cannot continue to act as if something happened here that didn’t happen.’ ‘If you are unwilling to come forward and present the evidence, it must mean the evidence doesn’t exist,’ he went on. ‘The country is what has to matter the most. As much as I’m a strong Republican and I love my party, it’s the country that has to come first.’” [CNN, 11/22/20]
- Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA): “President Trump Should Accept The Outcome Of The Election And Facilitate The Presidential Transition Process.” “Following yet another legal setback for the Trump campaign, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania called on President Trump to accept the outcome of the Nov. 3 election and move forward with the transition process in order to protect his presidential legacy… ‘Make no mistake about it, I am deeply disappointed that President Trump and Vice President Pence were not re-elected. I endorsed the president and voted for him,’ he said, applauding the Trump administration for its tax policy and three appointments to the Supreme Court. But, he added: ‘To ensure that he is remembered for these outstanding accomplishments, and to help unify our country, President Trump should accept the outcome of the election and facilitate the presidential transition process.’” [NPR, 11/22/20]
- Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “The Trump Administration Should Provide The Biden Team With All Transition Materials.” “Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said on Friday that President-elect Joe Biden should be given access to transition resources, something he currently doesn’t have because the General Services Administration hasn’t certified him as the winner of the presidential election. ‘If there is any chance whatsoever that Joe Biden will be the next president, and it looks like he has a very good chance, the Trump Administration should provide the Biden team with all transition materials, resources, and meetings necessary,’ Alexander, a longtime ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said in a statement.” [The Hill, 11/20/20]
- Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AR): “It Is Very Important That Joe Biden Have Access To The Intelligence Briefings…During Times Of Transition Our Enemies Have An Opportunity To Take Advantage Of Us.” “‘It is very important that Joe Biden have access to the intelligence briefings,’ Hutchinson said, noting ‘during times of transition our enemies have an opportunity to take advantage of us.’” [Forbes, 11/15/20]
National Security Officials Are Highlighting the Dangers of a Delayed Transition
- More Than A Hundred Republican National Security Experts: “President Trump’s Refusal To Permit The Presidential Transition Poses Significant Risks To Our National Security, At A Time When The U.S. Confronts A Global Pandemic.” “President Trump’s refusal to permit the presidential transition poses significant risks to our national security, at a time when the U.S. confronts a global pandemic and faces serious threats from global adversaries, terrorist groups, and other forces,” said a statement signed by more than 100 GOP luminaries. The signers included [former Homeland Security Secretary Tom] Ridge, the former Pennsylvania governor who served as Homeland Security secretary under President George W. Bush, former CIA Director Michael Hayden and John D. Negroponte, who served as director of national intelligence.” [Washington Post, 11/23/20]
- A Group Of More Than 150 Former National Security Officials Sent A Letter Urging The GSA To Officially Recognize Joe Biden And Kamala Harris As President-Elect And Vice President-Elect. “In a letter sent to the General Services Administration on Thursday and obtained by POLITICO, the former officials urged the agency to officially name Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the apparent president-elect and vice president-elect so that they can access information ‘needed to address pressing national security issues, such as the President’s Daily Briefing and pending decisions on possible uses of military force.’ The letter comes as Trump continues to refuse to concede the election, resulting in the presidential transition effectively being put on hold for the first time in two decades. It was signed by 161 former officials, including former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; former CIA and NSA Director Gen. Michael Hayden; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; former Deputy NSA Director Chris Inglis; and former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power.” [Politico, 11/12/20]
- Former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton Said Republicans Need To “Acknowledge The Reality” That Joe Biden Is President-Elect. “Former national security adviser John Bolton urged congressional Republicans in a new interview to ‘acknowledge the reality’ that Joe Biden is president-elect — predicting GOP lawmakers would survive any potential backlash from President Donald Trump if they broke with him over the 2020 election results… Bolton agreed that Biden and key members of the president-elect’s team ‘should have full access to intelligence briefings.’ The ‘individual transition teams’ at the State Department, the Defense Department and national security agencies should be allowed to ‘begin their work,’ as well, Bolton said.” [Politico, 11/13/20]