Henry Paulson, a Republican who was U.S. Treasury secretary
during the 2008 financial meltdown, on Friday called a Donald Trump presidency
"unthinkable" and said he will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Paulson joins a growing list of establishment Republicans
who say they will not cast a ballot in the Nov. 8 election for Trump, the
party's presumptive nominee and a political neophyte whose populist rhetoric
runs counter to many long-held Republican principles.
"When it comes to the presidency, I will not vote for
Donald Trump," Paulson, who was chief executive of Goldman Sachs before
becoming Treasury chief under Republican President George W. Bush, wrote in an
opinion piece in the Washington Post.
"I'll be voting for Hillary Clinton, with the hope
that she can bring Americans together to do the things necessary to strengthen
our economy, our environment and our place in the world," he said.
Paulson accused Trump, who has touted his business acumen
as a real estate developer during his campaign, of taking "imprudent
risk" and then disavowing his debts when ventures fail.
He also took aim at Trump's opposition to trade agreements,
which Paulson said have created U.S. jobs and fostered innovation and
competitiveness.
"Simply put, a Trump presidency is unthinkable,"
Paulson said.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
Brent Scowcroft, a national security adviser to two
Republican presidents, endorsed Clinton on Wednesday, and Richard Armitage, a
deputy secretary of state under George W. Bush, said last week he would support
her.
Paulson, who helped steer a $700 billion bailout of the
financial system through Congress during the financial meltdown, said Trump is
a "phony" who is unfit to be president.
"I can't help but think what would have happened if a
divisive character such as Trump were president during the 2008 financial
crisis, at a time when leadership, compromise and careful analysis were
critical," he said.
(Reporting by Eric Beech)
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