USA Today broke its 34-year history of not taking sides during a presidential election, calling Republican nominee Donald Trump a “serial liar” and “demagogue” in a scathing editorial Friday.
“Because every presidential race is different, we revisit our no-endorsement policy every four years. We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach. Until now,” the editorial board wrote.
They argued Mr. Trump lacks the “temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs,” making him “unfit for the presidency.”
“Whether through indifference or ignorance, Trump has betrayed fundamental commitments made by all presidents since the end of World War II. These commitments include unwavering support for NATO allies, steadfast opposition to Russian aggression, and the absolute certainty that the United States will make good on its debts. He has expressed troubling admiration for authoritarian leaders and scant regard for constitutional protections.”
The editorial went on to describe Mr. Trump as an “erratic,” “serial liar” who “traffics in prejudice” and “appeals to bigotry and xenophobia.”
“Although polls show that Clinton is considered less honest and trustworthy than Trump, it’s not even a close contest,” they wrote. “Trump is in a league of his own when it comes to the quality and quantity of his misstatements. When confronted with a falsehood, such as his assertion that he was always against the Iraq War, Trump’s reaction is to use the Big Lie technique of repeating it so often that people begin to believe it.”
The editorial board said their condemnation of Mr. Trump does not necessarily mean they endorse Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, “who has her own flaws (though hers are far less likely to threaten national security or lead to a constitutional crisis).”
“The Editorial Board does not have a consensus for a Clinton endorsement,” they continued. “Some of us look at her command of the issues, resilience and long record of public service — as first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of State — and believe she’d serve the nation ably as its president. Other board members have serious reservations about Clinton’s sense of entitlement, her lack of candor and her extreme carelessness in handling classified information.
The editorial concluded by urging voters to keep Mr. Trump out of the White House.
“That might mean a vote for Clinton, the most plausible alternative to keep Trump out of the White House. Or it might mean a third-party candidate. Or a write-in. Or a focus on down-ballot candidates who will serve the nation honestly, try to heal its divisions, and work to solve its problems,” they wrote. “Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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