Michael Moore tells electors: It's 'too dangerous' to vote for Trump


In a message to the members of the Electoral College, director Michael Moore said he is hopeful they will block Donald Trump from the presidency, in a "Profiles in Courage moment."
On Tuesday's Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, Moore discussed the effort to get Republican electors to vote for a compromise candidate with Democrats that is not Trump. After musing that had he or O'Donnell urged Iran to hack Trump's servers like Trump asked Russia to do to Hillary Clinton, "somebody would pay us a visit," Moore expressed disbelief over Trump not taking his national security briefings seriously, and brought up former President George W. Bush receiving a briefing on August 6, 2001, stating that Osama bin Laden was "determined to strike in the U.S. with planes." Bush, who then went on to fish the rest of the day, "was asleep at the wheel the month before 9/11," Moore said. "We have a president-elect who doesn't even want to get behind the wheel. This is actually worse. He's putting all of us in danger."
Should something happen within the first few months of Trump's presidency, Moore is worried he will "use that event to take away our constitutional rights, to do something the Patriot Act didn't even think of doing back then." At that point, "I want my fellow Americans, regardless of if they're Democrats, Republicans, whatever you are, we have to come together and say, 'This man cannot be at the helm of this ship.'" Speaking directly to any electors watching, Moore said he knows Republican electors won't vote for Clinton, but the U.S. is in real danger should Trump enter office. "Don't do this to us," he said. "It's too dangerous, and your fellow Americans will thank you if you don't appoint him as president this coming Monday." He conceded that it's a "Hail Mary pass," but "stranger things have happened this year."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
6 perfect gifts for travel lovers
The Week Recommends The best trip is the one that lives on and on
-
How can you get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?
the explainer These steps can help boost the Social Security amount you receive
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department