There was some pleasant news for Donald Trump from the military community as 88 retired generals and admirals endorsed the Republican nominee in an open letter released Tuesday, according to The New York Times.
At an event organized by Major Gen. Sidney Shachnow, a 40-year Army veteran and Holocaust survivor, and Rear Admiral Charles Williams, Trump's campaign unveiled the letter, ahead of a speech on veterans affairs in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Military officials endorsed his presidential campaign, urging a "long overdue course correction in our national security posture."
While Shachnow declared that Trump "has the temperament to be commander-in-chief," Williams called the Republican nominee "more trusted" than Clinton, according to Politico.
The letter, which was signed by 88 retired military figures, comes at a time when the campaign gears up for a discussion on national security, with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump jointly participating in the event.
"The 2016 election affords the American people an urgently needed opportunity to make a long overdue course correction in our national security posture and policy," the letter states.
"As retired senior leaders of America's military, we believe that such a change can only be made by someone who has not been deeply involved with, and substantially responsible for, the hollowing out of our military and the burgeoning threats facing our country around the world," the generals and admirals write. "For this reason, we support Donald Trump's candidacy to be our next commander in chief."
While Clinton, a former secretary of state, is looking to garner points from Republican national security and foreign policy experts who have denounced Trump or from retired military figures like Gen. John R. Allen, the open letter by retired military men is a shot in the arm for Trump.
Meanwhile, Trump's revamped campaign is looking to project him as a palatable commander in chief, particularly ahead of his first debate with Clinton on September 26.
Calling the group "national security professionals for Trump," Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, a retired Army officer who had been under consideration to be Trump's running mate, said, "We had to stop accepting names because we were running out of time."
"These were people that have been passing us ideas from national security to education ideas," added Flynn.
In a statement released Tuesday, Trump said, "I thank each of them for their service and their confidence in me to serve as commander in chief. Keeping our nation safe and leading our armed forces is the most important responsibility of the presidency."
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