The U.S. military commander who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden asked President Donald Trump to revoke his security clearance on Thursday, taking a dramatic stand of solidarity with former CIA Director John Brennan.
William McRaven, a retired Navy admiral who led the team that assassinated bin Laden in 2011, made the request in a blistering open letter to Trump.
"Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John," McRaven, 62, wrote in the letter published by The Washington Post. "He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don't know him."
McRaven continued, "Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency."
Trump was widely criticized Wednesday for rescinding Brennan's clearance and announcing he's reviewing clearances for nine other prominent ex-intelligence officials _ all of whom have been critical of the president.
National security experts rebuked Trump's move as a deliberate attempt to punish his critics and compared him with authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin.
McRaven expounded on the qualities that make a good leader.
"A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization," he wrote. "A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself."
Unfortunately, McRaven wrote, Trump has embodied "little of these qualities."
"Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation," McRaven said.
