Dozens of ex-Trump administration officials have spoken out against him or oppose his campaign

Dozens of former Trump administration officials —  including his former VP Mike Pence, former Chief of Staff John Kelly, and two of his former defense secretaries  — have denounced the Republican nominee, with many instead endorsing Kamala Harris for president.

Last week, Donald Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, retired US Marine Corps general John Kelly, issued a warning for the American people: the Republican presidential nominee meets the definition of a fascist and should not again be entrusted with the presidency.

Kelly added that while in office, Trump wished he had obedient generals like Nazi leader Adolf Hitler did, and even said Hitler “did some good things.”

But Kelly is hardly the only former Trump administration official who has come out against the former president. In fact, he’s just one of dozens. 

For example, Trump’s own vice president, Mike Pence, has said he can’t “in good conscience” back Trump for a second term. 

Here’s a breakdown of everyone else who worked with Trump directly and has since denounced him; many of them have instead endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. 

Cabinet-level officials

In addition to Pence, at least five additional former Trump cabinet officials have spoken out against Trump and/or oppose his campaign: 

1. Mark Esper, who served as one of Trump’s secretaries of defense, has said that Trump is “unfit for office” and that the GOP should move on to another generation of candidates. He’s also explicitly said he will not vote for the former president.
2. Retired Gen. Jim Mattis, who also served as Trump’s defense secretary, has described the former president as a “threat to the Constitution.” He also blamed Trump for “inciting mob rule” following the 2021 Capitol insurrection and has agreed with Retired Army Gen. Mark A. Milley’s assessment of Trump’s character; in Bob Woodward’s new book, Milley refers to Trump as “a fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country.”
3. John Bolton, who served as a national security advisor during Trump’s time in the White House, has said there will be “celebrations in the Kremlin” if Trump is elected again.
4. Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who also served as a national security advisor during the Trump administration, said in 2021 that he would not support a second Trump term. McMaster also recently published a book in which he describes meetings in the Oval Office as “exercises in competitive sycophancy.” He says that Trump’s advisers would constantly flatter him, telling him his “instincts are always right” and that “no one has ever been treated so badly by the press.”
5. Dan Coats, who served as Director of National Intelligence between 2017 and 2019, supported former vice president Mike Pence in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. He’s also criticized Trump’s alleged possession of classified documents, saying his actions merit prison time. During an interview with podcaster Tim Miller earlier this month, Woodward said that Coats suspects Russian President Vladimir Putin is blackmailing the Republican nominee, as well. 

White House officials

At least six former White House officials have also publicly denounced Trump and/or endorsed Harris for president. 

1. Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House communications director and press secretary, said in 2021 that she was “terrified” of Trump running again. She called him unfit for the job, as well as “erratic,” “delusional,” and “a narcissist.” She even appeared at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where she voiced support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
2. Anthony Scarmucci, who also served as White House communications director, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
3. Sarah Matthews, who served as deputy White House press secretary, has also endorsed Kamala Harris.
4. Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as executive assistant to Trump’s former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said earlier this month that she was “proud” to vote for Kamala Harris instead of Donald Trump.
5. Omarosa Manigault Newman, who served as communications director of the Office of Public Liaison, has also endorsed Kamala Harris. Additionally, she published her memoir “Unhinged,” in 2018, in which she refers to Trump as both “racist” and “cognitively impaired.”
6. Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served in various capacities during Trump’s time in the White House, has also endorsed Kamala Harris. 

Other executive branch officials

Ten former executive branch officials have also publicly denounced Trump and/or endorsed Harris for president. 

1. James Comey, who served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president. He also backed President Biden during the 2020 Democratic primary.
2. Greg Brower, who served as assistant director of the FBI during both the Obama and Trump administrations, has also endorsed Harris.
3. Andrew McCabe, who served as deputy (and acting) director of the FBI for a time, has suggested that Trump may be a Russian asset and thinks that Harris is better-equipped to handle Vladimir Putin
   
4. Retired Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, who served as Trump’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country.”
5. Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security, was one of over 200 Republican staffers who endorsed Harris in a letter to the public last month.
6. John Mitnick, who served as general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, has also endorsed Harris.
7. William H. Webster, who served as chair of the Homeland Security Advisor Council until 2020, was also one of over 200 Republican staffers who endorsed Harris in a letter to the public last month.
8. Olivia Troye, homeland security and counterterrorism advisor as well as lead COVID-19 advisor to Mike Pence, has also endorsed Harris.
9. Sofia Kinzinger, who served as press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security as well as strategic media director for Mike Pence’s office, said last month that Republicans are “being lied to and abused” by Donald Trump. She endorsed Harris in a campaign video last month, as well.
10. Elizabeth Neumann, who served in various capacities during Trump’s time in the   White House, has also endorsed Harris. 

Other notable Republicans

Former President George W. Bush has also declined to endorse Trump, and did not attend the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Dick Cheney, former vice president under Bush, as well as his daughter, former US Rep. Liz Cheney, have both come out against Trump. Dick Cheney has said there is “no greater threat to our republic” than the former president, and earlier this month, Liz Cheney joined Vice President Harris at campaign events in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where she urged voters to reject Trump’s “depraved cruelty.”

US Sen. Mitt Romney, who ran against former president Barack Obama and lost in 2012, has been a vocal critic of Trump for years, calling him a “phony” and a “fraud.” He did not attend the 2024 Republican National Convention, either.