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Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General and White House Counsel for President George W. Bush, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race, marking a significant change in the Republican Party’s alignment. Gonzales’s endorsement, outlined in an op-ed published in Politico, illustrates rising uneasiness among several former Bush administration officials regarding Donald Trump’s likely return to power.
Gonzales, a renowned attorney, voiced his worries about Trump’s actions and how they would affect the rule of law. “As the United States approaches a critical election, I can’t sit quietly as Donald Trump — perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation — eyes a return to the White House,” Gonzales wrote. Citing Trump’s words and actions as proof that he is unsuitable for office, he denounced Trump’s contempt for presidential traditions and the possible misuse of power.
Gonzales also took issue with a recent Supreme Court ruling that granted significant immunity to former presidents for official acts, which he believes undermines accountability. Despite his limited personal interactions with Trump, Gonzales noted that several former senior officials from Trump’s administration, including key figures like the vice president and defense secretary, have distanced themselves from the former president.
While Gonzales acknowledged Harris’s relatively limited foreign policy experience compared to President Biden, he defended her against criticisms related to the current administration’s economic policies and border issues. He argued that the vice president has limited influence over such matters, placing more responsibility on Congress and past administration actions. Gonzales praised Harris’s commitment to the rule of law, drawing on her background as a former local prosecutor and state attorney general.
Gonzales’s endorsement comes amidst a broader trend of former Bush officials supporting Harris. Last month, a group of a dozen Republican White House lawyers from past Republican administrations, including John B. Bellinger III and John M. Mitnick, endorsed Harris, citing concerns about Trump’s threat to American democracy.
Gonzales’s endorsement and the broader trend of Bush administration alumni backing Harris reflect a significant political realignment, driven by concerns over Trump’s leadership and the future direction of the country.