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The Reagan-era National Security Advisor told CNN on Sunday morning: 'I cannot in any way support President Trump this year.' Powell, who served as George W. Bush's secretary of State, explained his reasoning had to do with the way the president treats people and has reacted to the coronavirus pandemic race riots.
'We have a Constitution and we have to follow that Constitution and the President has drifted away from it,' Powell said regarding the treatment of protesters who took to the streets after George Floyd's death. 'I'm very close to Joe Biden in a social matter and on a political matter. I have worked with him for 35, 40 years.
And he is now the candidate, and I will be voting for him,' Powell said. Trump clapped back on Twitter shortly after the interview aired, calling Powell a 'stiff' and blaming him for getting the U.S. involved in 'Middle East Wars.' 'Colin Powell, a real stiff who was very responsible for getting us into the disastrous Middle East Wars, just announced he will be voting for another stiff, Sleepy Joe Biden,' Trump tweeted. 'Didn't Powell say that Iraq had 'weapons of mass destruction?' They didn't, but off we went to WAR!'
Trump carried on with his criticism of Powell as he touted his presidential successes so far.
'Somebody please tell highly overrated Colin Powell that I will have gotten almost 300 Federal Judges approved (a record), Two Great Supreme Court Justices, rebuilt our once depleted Military, Choice for Vets, Biggest Ever Tax & Regulation Cuts, Saved Healthcare & 2A, & much more!' the president tweeted.
The retired four-star Army general also praised other former and current military leaders for condemning the president's decision to call in active duty military to the Washington D.C. area to quell protests.
Among those who chastised the move were former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and current Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
The condemnation of the president comes as he loses ground among some of his most loyal supporters, and is still trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 7 percentage points, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll revealed Sunday.
Trump lashed out at his competitor on Twitter Sunday morning, claiming Biden is 'controlled by the Radical Left' and warning Republicans that he will 'defund police' if elected president.
As of Saturday, Biden secured enough delegates in primary elections across the country to win the Democratic nomination – even though he has been the presumed nominee since April, when remaining Democratic competitor Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out.
While former President Bush is also not going to back the re-election of President Trump, according to a report from The New York Times, it is not clear if that means he will support Biden.
The nation's 43rd president is one of several members at the top of the GOP who are keeping quiet on their support for the incumbent.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, who was the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, is also said to be considering placing a vote for Biden.
Neither Bush nor Romney, however, voted for Trump in the 2016 election.
America's 43rd president George W. Bush will not vote for Trump in the election, the NYT reported
Romney, pictured here soon after Trump won his election in 2016, is also not planning on voting for the president and is reportedly considering casting his ballot for Biden
Joe Biden, who just clinched enough delegate to earn the Democratic nomination, is said to be about to launch a 'Republicans for Biden' arm to his campaign
Pundits also said it's possible that Bush could consider voting for Biden, but the former president has not said anything on the matter
Bush has not spoken out publicly against Trump, but the president tweeted about his predecessor during his impeachment trial.
'Oh bye [sic] the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside,' Trump wrote on Twitter. 'He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!'
Dan Bartlett, who served in the Bush White House as counselor to the president told Statesman he hasn't 'heard of anything about Bush even contemplating an endorsement and would be surprised if he jumped in on either side.'
It's a similar view held by Republican book author and expert Mark Updegrove.
'He's obviously not a fan,' Updegrove said when it comes to George W's feelings about Trump. 'He told me in mid-2016 that Trump 'really doesn't understand the job of president' and later that he voted for 'none of the above'.
Updegrove said that it was unlikely Bush would vote for Biden but he wouldn't be endorsing Trump.
Bush's brother, Jeb, is also planning not to vote for Trump, along with Senator Romney as well.
Others include John McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, who is likely to vote for Biden.
The report also notes Republican former Speaker Paul Ryan and former Speaker John Boehner are not declaring publicly how they will vote but some in the GOP may decide to go for a third-party contender or simply openly declare their vote for Biden who is about to launch a 'Republicans for Biden' arm to his campaign.
President Donald Trump tweeted last month calling out President Bush for not backing him during his impeachment trial
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