Here are how Democrats, Republicans, legal experts, and members of the media reacted to President Trump’s decision Tuesday to fire Christopher Krebs, a Department of Homeland Security official who was the director of the federal program overseeing election security.
Krebs had dismissed baseless allegations, from Trump and others, that the 2020 vote included widespread fraud. He kept a low profile even as he voiced confidence ahead of the November vote and, afterward, knocked down suggestions that the count was tainted by fraud.
Representative Adam Schiff of California, a Democrat:
Director Krebs worked diligently to safeguard our elections from interference and misinformation.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 18, 2020
He protected our democracy. And spoke truth to power.
That’s why Trump retaliated and fired him.
It’s pathetic and predictable from a president who views truth as his enemy.
US Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a Democrat:
Chris Krebs is an extraordinary public servant and exactly the person Americans want protecting the security of our elections.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) November 18, 2020
It speaks volumes that the president chose to fire him simply for telling the truth.
Constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe, a Harvard Law School professor:
Advertisement
Trump just “terminated” Chris Krebs, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director. By tweet, of course. As predicted. His reason? That Krebs dared to call the Nov. 3 election “the most secure in American history.” The truth is kryptonite to Trump.
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) November 18, 2020
Krebs himself:
Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomrorow. #Protect2020
— Chris Krebs (@C_C_Krebs) November 18, 2020
Conservative political analyst Bill Kristol, who has regularly spoken out against President Trump:
Chris Krebs did a lot of work this year to help state and local officials pull off remarkably free and fair elections with record turnout, under difficult circumstances. For this, he was fired by Donald Trump.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 18, 2020
Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard faculty member and former official with the Department of Homeland Security:
This is just lovely, and somewhat in national character, from head of UK Cyber Center. #krebs #specialrelationship https://t.co/0FquPjKhSh
— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) November 18, 2020
CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale:
The president is lying in his justification for firing an appointee for telling the truth. pic.twitter.com/YDLocfEDue
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 18, 2020
US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a Democrat:
Christopher Krebs got fired because he did his job to protect our elections and stood up to Trump's conspiracy theories. This is a disgusting abuse of power by a weak and desperate President who undermines our democracy and national security. https://t.co/T6MTiNfvbs
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 18, 2020
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat:
The President fired Christopher Krebs for doing his job—ensuring a free and fair election. It’s vindictive, flailing, and does nothing to change the outcome of the election.
— Maura Healey (@MassAGO) November 18, 2020
Thank you, @C_C_Krebs. Our country owes you a debt of gratitude.
Representative Ted Lieu of California, a Democrat:
Chris Krebs is a Trump appointee. There was no reason for Krebs to lie when he concluded the elections were secure and fair. @realDonaldTrump fired Krebs for telling the truth. @POTUS can keep firing people, but he can’t change the fact that he lost the presidential election. https://t.co/GA3x8d3UB4
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 18, 2020
CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins:
If you wanna know why officials are hesitant to recognize obvious truths like Joe Biden won the election and Donald Trump didn't, Chris Krebs is a prime example of how, in this White House, you can be fired for contradicting the president, even if he is wrong.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 18, 2020
US Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a Democrat:
The Trump administration just fired Chris Krebs. I know this guy. He is in charge of protecting our critical infrastructure—including elections—from cyberattacks. He did his job. He did it without fear or favor.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 18, 2020
To use all caps like our outgoing President likes to do: OUTRAGE.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this story.
Peter Bailey-Wells can be reached at peter.bailey-wells@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @pbaileywells. Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @shannonlarson98.