Did George Bush and John McCain support Kamala Harris? Fact-checking the claims

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

Photo: AP

A group of over 200 Republicans, including former officials who served under Presidents George HW Bush, George W. Bush, Senator John McCain and Senator Mitt Romney, supported Vice President Kamala Harrisand warned that another term for Donald Trump would endanger democracy. The statements of support, delivered in a letter first reported by USA Today, underscored concerns about the potential consequences of a second Trump term. However, there are NO CONFIRMED REPORTS as to whether George Bush may or may not have endorsed Kamala Harris. Some of his aides have, but he has not, at least not yet.

Although members of the Bush, McCain and Romney campaigns were part of this alliance, it is important to understand that their support came from allies and former associates rather than the politicians themselves. The group’s letter expressed their fear for the survival of American democracy and called for action in response to what they viewed as Trump’s potentially dangerous leadership.

The group wrote the letter acknowledging ideological differences with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Vice President Harris, but stressing that the alternative was unacceptable. They said the administration of previous President Donald Trump was anarchic and harmful, especially to ordinary people and key democratic institutions.

This support came after the same group’s 2020 project, in which they expressed reservations about Trump’s leadership. In their latest correspondence, Republicans called on independent voters in swing states and moderate party members who supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election to oppose Trump again.

Her letter was published after several Republicans made comments at the Democratic National Convention criticizing Trump’s leadership. Among the supporters was Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump press secretary who openly supported Harris and called Trump a hypocrite who lacked morals, empathy and integrity. In addition, Grisham said Trump had referred to his supporters as “basement dwellers” in private conversations.

Former Vice President Mike Pence’s adviser Olivia Troye joined her criticism, saying Trump intentionally created division in order to win. Troye stressed that supporting Harris does not always mean betraying the Republican Party; rather, it is a vote for democracy.

Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger joined the growing list of critics, describing Trump as a “weak man pretending to be strong” whose primary concern is his own self-interest. Kinzinger contrasted this with Harris’ commitment to the rule of law, the Constitution and democracy, claiming that these core principles outweigh any political differences.

The expressions of support and criticism, which represented a clear departure from established party lines, revealed deep divisions regarding Trump’s leadership within the Republican Party. The group’s activities demonstrated how much they believed that any ideological differences with Harris and the Democratic Party were overshadowed by the dangers of a second Trump term.