Hillary Clinton described President Trump’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday as “very dark” and “dangerous,” taking particular issue with her former 2016 campaign rival’s take on a belligerent North Korea.
During an interview with “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, which is part of Clinton’s book tour for her campaign memoir, What Happened, the former secretary of state said she caught some parts of Trump’s inaugural address to the U.N. in New York City earlier in the day.
“I thought it was very dark, dangerous. Not the kind of message that the leader of the greatest nation in the world should be delivering,” she said.
Trump’s speech was wide-ranging, including the suggestion that he is close to ditching the Iran nuclear agreement struck by former President Barack Obama by calling it an “embarrassment to the United States,” but Clinton focused the crux of her criticism on Trump’s remarks about North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un. The president told world leaders that the U.S. would have “no choice but to totally destroy North Korea” if the rogue regime threatened the U.S. or its allies.
“While of course, when you face dangerous situations, like what is happening in North Korea, to make it clear, your first approach should always be diplomatic,” Clinton said.
She said her hope is that the U.S. will continue to review the situation with its allies and call on all nations to try and end the threat posed by North Korea peacefully.
Though Trump has fueled a war of words with North Korea in recent months, once promising “fire and fury” in response to aggression, he has also sought to pressure the regime to end its nuclear weapons and missile programs via international sanctions and by pushing its neighbor China to leverage its influence over Kim.
TONIGHT on #LSSC: Before getting into the 2016 election, @HillaryClinton reviews #WhatHappened in @realDonaldTrump‘s #UNGA speech today… pic.twitter.com/AguyWYMnH8
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) September 19, 2017
Still, Trump left little room for doubt that he’s losing his patience with Pyongyang, saying “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” repeating his nickname for Kim. North Korea has already responded, warning that the U.S. will endure a “nuclear strike and miserable and final ruin.”
Clinton scolded Trump for calling Kim “Rocket Man,” which she noted is from an “old Elton John song.”
She said Trump should have stated “clearly” that the U.S. and its allies would not tolerate attacks, while still prioritizing talks.
“You should lead with diplomacy. You should lead with the commitment to try and avoid conflict however you can,” Clinton said.
