It’s a year of broken traditions.
USA Today announced its opposition to GOP nominee Donald Trump Thursday evening, marking the first time in the paper’s 34-year history that it has taken a position in a presidential election.
The paper’s editorial board did not, however, endorse Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the Green Party’s Jill Stein or Independent candidate Evan McMullin.
Rather, USA Today’s message to its readers is: Voter for anyone but the GOP nominee.
Donald Trump is “unfit for the presidency,” the paper’s editorial board wrote.
They added, “From the day he declared his candidacy 15 months ago through this week’s first presidential debate, Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.”
Along with being ignorant on the basics domestic policy, the GOP nominee has also shown an indifference towards honoring America’s commitments abroad, the board said.
“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,” USA Today’s editorial board said.
They continued by listing the numerous reasons for why they believe “unanimously” that Trump is unfit to be president, including that he’s “erratic,” he “traffics in prejudice,” his “His business career is checkered,” he speak recklessly,” he’s a “serial liar” and that he has “coarsened the national dialogue.”
The editorial concluded, “Our bottom-line advice for voters is this: Stay true to your convictions. 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.”
“Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump,” they wrote.
USA Today joins a growing list of newspapers that have broken longstanding traditions this year to combat Trump’s candidacy.
On Sept. 7, the Dallas Morning News announced its support for Hillary Clinton, ending its 75-year streak of endorsing only GOP candidates for president. On Sept. 23, the Cincinnati Enquirer shattered a nearly century-old tradition of backing only Republicans for president when it threw its support behind the Democratic nominee. On Sept. 27, the Arizona Republic backed Clinton over Trump, marking the first time since it started printing newspapers in 1890 that it had chosen a Democrat over a Republican.
Each editorial board stressed it has extreme misgivings about Clinton, and each was careful to note she has several shortcomings. But like USA Today, each newspaper also argued that no matter her drawbacks, she’s not as bad as Trump.
–
This article has been updated.
