To: Interested Parties
From: National Security Action Executive Director Caroline Tess
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Re: National Security Action Re-Launching to Prevent a Dangerous Trump Presidency
Six years ago, National Security Action launched with a singular purpose: to highlight Donald Trump’s reckless leadership as President, which made the United States weaker in the world, less safe, and more isolated despite rising global threats. For the duration of the Trump Administration, National Security Action filled a critical gap – building a hub for the national security community to effectively advance American global leadership and oppose Trump and his allies’ reckless policies that endangered our national security.
Our goal was to put ourselves out of business – and to a great extent we did. Yet today, the dire threat of a second Trump Administration necessitates that we once again mobilize to communicate the unique danger Donald Trump presents to the American people and the world. We know an effective, strategic, and relentless response to Trump’s dangerous national security policies is critical. That is why we have reconstituted a dedicated team within National Security Action to support our community of national security leaders to ensure that we can win the critical debate against the MAGA movement’s dangerous approach to national security.
Message and Opinion Research to Determine What’s Most Important to Voters and How to Reach Them
National Security Action has established itself as a vital resource for message and opinion research on voters' views on key national security and foreign policy issues – a vertical that is under researched and poorly understood. Over the next year, we will undertake a series of polls and focus groups to enable Democrats to better understand how to speak to the American people and craft effective, politically-salient messages that make the case against the return of a Trump Administration. Equipped with this invaluable information, National Security Action will assemble and empower a coalition of experienced, effective and dedicated national security experts to communicate the many dangers of a second Trump Administration.
National Security Action Will Continue to Act as an Invaluable Resource for National Security Leaders Opposed to Donald Trump
From 2018 to 2020, National Security Action led efforts to combat the Trump Administration’s dangerous foreign policy – acting as a hub for policy, political strategy, and messaging on national security. During that time, National Security Action leveraged a range of communications tools to support and amplify national security voices, identify policy responses, and engage with voters to oppose Trump’s dangerous foreign policy and advance American global leadership.
In 2024, we will continue this important work by serving as a resource for like-minded partners and allies fighting to advance policies that promote a responsible vision of foreign policy while combating reckless policies; developing evidence-based communications strategies to shape key national security debates; and convening and mobilizing national security experts to support smart solutions for policymakers. We aim to work with like-minded organizations committed to protecting and advancing democracy beyond the national security space, and to be a one-stop-shop for our partners and allies in understanding how to communicate the threat that Donald Trump presents to the nation.
With Another Possible Trump Administration, Communicating the Threat Is More Important than Ever
Donald Trump retreated from the world stage, undermined the intelligence and law enforcement agencies that keep us safe, gutted the diplomacy that prevents wars, routinely insulted our allies, and cozied up to dictators while abandoning America’s commitment to universal rights and human dignity. Impulsive, erratic, and staggeringly ignorant of how the world works, Trump was and remains unfit to lead our men and women in uniform, and he diminishes America’s standing in the eyes of the world.
In light of this renewed threat, National Security Action is gearing up to oppose Trump’s foreign policy proposals and ensure that Americans understand the critical choice they face this November. In media markets across the country, National Security Action will deploy trusted voices to highlight Trump’s failed leadership, emphasize his inability to confront global challenges and stress that a second Trump presidency would make all of us less safe.
In a Volatile World, Steady and Respected Leadership Is Critical
Faced with Putin’s revanchist war in Europe, the existential threat of climate change, rising tensions in the Middle East, and aggressive behavior from China, stable and experienced leadership has never been more important. Instead of the chaos and bluster that characterized U.S. policies in the Trump years, we must have leadership which understands the importance of diplomacy and strong alliances, because we cannot solve global problems or deal with our adversaries by going it alone.
We must have leadership which is widely respected and trusted around the world – understanding the importance of diplomacy and strong alliances, because we cannot protect America or deal with our adversaries by going it alone.
Foreign Policy Is Front of Mind for Many Voters:
While it’s few Americans’ top priority, voters have never been more engaged with foreign policy. Public and internal research has shown that a substantial number of voters identify national security as an extremely important issue in the 2024 election.
As the world becomes increasingly connected, foreign policy choices are impacting Americans at home more than ever before. In times of crisis, voters value competence over chaos, and leaders who understand the importance of working with our allies, not alienating them. More than ever before, Americans are demanding leadership which understands that climate change is an existential threat to our way of life and that we must act now to continue mobilizing a global response to combat it. Voters prioritize investing at home and developing technologies in key industries that create more quality American jobs and build stronger American supply chains. And finally, Americans support leaders who value and defend what makes America truly unique: our democracy and values. This means strengthening democracy here at home, defending America against foreign interference, and standing up for democracy and human rights abroad.