A retired one-star general who joined dozens of other former high-ranking officials to endorse Donald Trump on Tuesday told CNN he often disagrees with the Republican presidential nominee on national security and hopes Trump will have learned more about foreign affairs “by the time he becomes commander in chief.”
“Yes, he said some things that I don’t totally agree with, and I’ll be the first to admit that,” retired Brig. Gen. Remo Butler told Carol Costello in a lengthy interview. “Hopefully he is growing and learning and there are enough people on his team … that will take him and help him find the right path to success.”
“Do you think the country can afford that when we’re fighting an enemy like [the Islamic State], to wait for our commander in chief to learn?” Costello interjected.
“He’s not our commander in chief yet, is he?” Butler responded, adding that “by the time [Trump] becomes commander in chief, he should have learned those lessons.”
Costello countered: “So if Donald Trump doesn’t say certain things that you agree with that are good for our country and our military forces, if he doesn’t change his tune, will you then drop your support, or is it just unqualified support?”
“No, ma’am. I would be a fool to give anyone my unqualified support,” Butler said. “I am listening to what he says. I am listening and watching his actions. I have a brain, very good brain, I might add, and I will think through my decisions very, very carefully.”
The retired military officer, who is black, went on to say Trump should continue to reach out to black voters, but he cautioned the GOP presidential hopeful about his current when speaking to minorities.
“Most of my friends are like me. We are, as Reagan said, the silent majority. There’s a silent majority of black people out there,” he said. “And I believe a lot of those people want the same things that Donald Trump wants. You have to show those people, me included, that you really want what I want.
“Don’t take us for granted,” Butler advised, adding that Trump “has not done” his outreach correctly but that his campaign appears to be moving “in the right direction.”
“We’re taking baby steps right now. I hope I can help this party walk and then run,” he said.
