Trump 'drifted away' from Constitution, says former Republican secretary of state

US President Donald Trump has "drifted away" from Constitution, retired decorated general and former Republican secretary of state Colin Powell alleged on Sunday and said that he will vote for Democratic candidate Joe Biden in vember presidential elections.

"We have a Constitution. And we have to follow that Constitution. And president has drifted away from it. I'm so proud of what se generals and admirals have done and ors have done,” Gen (rtd) Powell told CNN.

A retired four star general, Powell served as secretary of state under last Republican George W Bush administration. He also served as US national security advisor under Regan administration and was chairman of joint chiefs of staff under both Bush and Bill Clinton administrations.

decorated American general supported views expressed by some of or retired generals who served in Trump administration on his policies and handling of nationwide protests in aftermath of custodial death of African-American George Floyd.

"I didn't write a letter because I made my point with respect to Trump's performance some four years ago, when he was running for office. And when I heard some of things he was saying, it made it clear that I could t possibly vote for this individual,” said Powell, first African American secretary of state.

" first thing that troubled me is whole birrs movement. And birrs movement had to do with fact that president of United States, President Obama, was a black man. That was part of it," said Powell.

"And n I was deeply troubled by way in which he was going around insulting everybody, insulting Gold Star mors, insulting John McCain, insulting immigrants -- and I'm son of immigrants -- insulting anybody who dared to speak against him,” he said.

"That is dangerous for our democracy. It is dangerous for our country. I think what we're seeing w, most massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life, I think this suggests that country is getting wise to this, and we're t going to put up with it anymore,” Powell said.

In a rare television interview, Powell said that he will vote for Biden during vember presidential elections. “I'm very close to Joe Biden in a social matter and on a political matter. I have worked with him for 35, 40 years. And he is w candidate, and I will be voting for him,” he said.

At same time he said that he has t been asked to campaign for Biden. “I don't think I will be. Campaigning is t my strong suit,” he said.

“I think this year is going to be a different kind of year. We have done things that have offended just about everybody in world. Our friends are distraught with us. We are down on NATO. We are cutting more troops out of Germany. We have done away with our contributions to World Health Organization. We're t that happy with United Nations,” Powell said.

“Just about everywhere you go, you will find this kind of disdain for American foreign policy that is t in our interests. And we have to get on top of this. We have to start acting seriously. How can you say that we're going to take troops out of Germany, but we're also thinking of putting more in, and we're going to create a new headquarters in Germany? That was a headquarters I commanded 25 years ago,” he asserted.

“We have got to make up our mind of what we're doing, but it seems to all come out of White House, without consultation with our Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is t way system is supposed to work,” Powell said.

"And until president realizes that he needs to understand Constitution, understand restraints on him and his authority, and talk openly with his military authorities about what is right thing to do, and t fire m when he doesn't get answer he likes,” he said.