Gates hits Cruz, Trump for ‘opportunism’ on national security

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is criticizing Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on national security.

“My view is that they either really don’t understand how difficult this is or they’re being pretty cynical and opportunistic,” he said on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.”

{mosads}“[They are] putting forward simple solutions that are simply unattainable, as opposed to suggesting to the American people [that] these are complex problems that are going to take time to solve,” Gates said of the GOP presidential rivals.

“I think that it’s opportunism. A lot of the challenges we face are just really tough and there are no simple solutions.

“I’d rather that they be cynical and opportunistic than to believe that they really believe this stuff,” he added. “At least then they have some understanding of the realities of the world. You know, the truth is, it applies to a lot of the candidates on domestic issues as well.”

Gates said political outsiders like Cruz, Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are resonating with voters upset by the status quo.

“I think they have tapped into a deep lode of real resentment and anger on the part of the American people with our elected officials and the paralysis in Washington and the polarization,” the former CIA director said.

“A big problem is also that Americans, every day in their lives, are dealing with institutions that seem to make their lives more difficult for them rather than easing their way.”

Gates refused to say whether he can see a President Trump, however.

“If the American people elect him, he will be the commander in chief and what some of us may or may not think about it becomes entirely irrelevant.”