Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton exchanged fierce denunciations of their national security credentials throughout the day on Monday, after separate attacks in Minnesota and New York City prompted the candidates to say the other would make the homeland less safe as president.
After commenting on morning television and social media, Trump released a lengthy written statement tying together some of his campaign’s core themes: praise of law enforcement, condemnation of Clinton’s State Department record, a combative tone against P.C. culture and those who won’t call terrorists “radical Islamist(s)”, and a reference to his immigration policies. He also used a line against Clinton she used against Trump earlier this month.
“The Obama-Clinton doctrine of not taking ISIS seriously enough has emboldened terrorists all over the world. They are hoping and praying that Hillary Clinton becomes president so that they can continue their savagery and murder,” Trump stated. The Democratic candidate said a couple of weeks ago that terrorists were praying, “Please, Allah, make Trump president of America,” adding that ISIS was “rooting” for the Republican to win the White House.
Earlier in the day, Clinton echoed former CIA director Michael Hayden, who said earlier this year that Trump was a “recruiting sergeant” for groups like ISIS.
“The kinds of rhetoric and language Mr. Trump has used is giving aid and comfort to our adversaries,” she said.
