Former U.S. Ambassador in Britain, Robert Tuttle, speaks to the press outside the US. embassy in central London, Jul. 6, 2006. | AP Photos Former Reagan official swears off Trump, backs Clinton

Donald Trump has failed to prove he is competent to be president, a former Ronald Reagan official said Friday in announcing his endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

Robert Tuttle, who served as an assistant to the president and director of presidential personnel in Reagan’s administration and who was also a U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom under George W. Bush, says he will vote for a Democrat for the first time in his life come November.


“The Republican nominee for president has no government experience and has done nothing in his career to demonstrate that he is competent to be president,” Tuttle said in a statement. “He has made repeated misstatements and inaccurate statements. He has insulted minorities, women, a war hero and Gold Star parents. He is unqualified and unfit to be president. I have never voted for a Democrat but I will vote for Secretary Clinton.”

Tuttle’s support comes two days after Clinton’s campaign announced its Together for America initiative, the Democratic presidential nominee’s effort to attract Republicans and independents.

With Trump as the Republican Party’s standard-bearer, Clinton’s campaign has touted the growing number of Republicans and former GOP officials who have flocked to her campaign, including the former Republican Cabinet secretaries announced Wednesday.

“Tuttle is the latest Republican leader to step forward, put country ahead of party in this election, and endorse Hillary Clinton for president,” the campaign said in a statement. “He joins other Republican and independent voters who simply cannot vote for Donald Trump because he is unfit and unqualified to be our president and commander in chief and who recognize Hillary Clinton’s experience and commitment to work together to build our economy and protect our security.”