Ex-Trump DOD sec 'will prioritize democracy and the nation’s security or he won’t': analyst

On the Friday, March 29 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, former Donald Trump defense secretary Mark Esper was asked whether or not he plans to vote for President Joe Biden's reelection in November, according to the Daily Beast.

"I’m definitely not voting for Trump, but I’m not there yet,” the ex-Trump official, who was "terminated" shortly after the 2020 election, said. The Beast notes, "When Maher pressed him, Esper" still didn't offer a clear response.

"There’s no way I’ll vote for Trump," he insisted, "but every day that Trump does something crazy, the door to voting for Biden opens a little bit more, and that’s where I’m at."

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In a Monday, April 1 op-ed, MSNBC's MaddowBlog editor and political contributor Steve Benen suggests the preservation of American democracy depends on former Trump officials like Esper's vote for Biden.

"On Election Day 2024, there will be assorted uncompetitive candidates on the ballot, none of whom stand a realistic chance of becoming president, leaving Esper and those like him with a choice between the major parties’ nominees," Benen writes.

In November, Esper told CNN the MAGA hopeful "is a threat to democracy," and "can’t beat President Joe Biden in the general election."

The former defense secretary also said, "I will do whatever I can to try to make sure" another Trump presidency doesn't happen."

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Benen emphasizes, There’s an inherent problem with someone effectively saying, "Trump would undermine U.S. national security and create a threat to democracy, but I’m reluctant to vote for his opponent."

He writes:

Esper still isn’t sure whether he’s ready to cast a ballot for President Joe Biden.

The tension between these positions is difficult to reconcile. The decision for the former Defense secretary is entirely straightforward: He can either vote to return Trump to office or vote to prevent him from returning to office. Either Esper will prioritize democracy and the nation’s security or he won’t.

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Benen's full op-ed is available here.