National newspaper USA Today took an unprecedented stance against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in a scathing editorial Thursday night.
For the first time in more than 30 years, the paper’s editorial board broke its non-presidential endorsement policy saying that Trump is “unfit for the presidency.” In the op-ed piece, the board did not back a specific candidate, but rather urged voters to not vote for Trump.
“This year, the choice isn’t between two capable major party nominees who happen to have significant ideological differences,” the board wrote. “This year, one of the candidates—Republican nominee Donald Trump—is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency.”
The board listed eight different reasons to back its decision, writing that Trump “traffics in prejudice,” is a “serial liar,” and is “erratic,” among other criticisms.
USA Today’s editorial board also said Trump has “coarsened the national dialogue” and that his “business career is checkered,” referencing Trump’s six bankruptcy filings, “apparent misuse” of the family’s charitable foundation, and allegations of fraud by Trump University customers.
“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,” the board wrote.
The board also condemned Trump’s “admiration for authoritarian leaders” and his “scant regard for constitutional protections.”
However, the paper made it clear that it “doesn’t represent unqualified support for Hillary Clinton” and does not currently have a consensus for the Democratic presidential nominee. The op-ed noted that although some members of the board believe Clinton would serve the nation “ably as president,” others have “serious reservations about Clinton’s sense of entitlement, her lack of candor and her extreme carelessness in handling classified information.”
“Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump,” the board wrote at the end of its op-ed.
USA Today’s editorial board joins a series of other publications voicing their opinions on the presidential candidates.
A member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board endorsed Clinton Thursday evening, and just this month, the Arizona Republic, the Cincinnati Enquirer and Dallas Morning News all backed Clinton as well.
The New Hampshire Union Leader and the Detroit News both endorsed Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, which was the first time in 143 years that the latter publication did not endorse a Republican candidate, according to CNN.
Coins2Day has reached out to the Trump campaign and will update this story if we receive a response.
