On Wednesday night, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off in back-to-back interviews with NBC News’ Matt Lauer in NY.
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Yet there were two words – “listen” and “control” – that were used just once, and each time by only one of the candidates.
It offered a prelude to how Clinton and Trump will deal with questions of national security in their three presidential debates later in September and in October.
Clinton, who has cast Trump as dangerously ill-prepared to be commander in chief, tried to center the discussion on her foreign policy proposals. “He didn’t do it on a number of other issues and frankly, this criticism that he went a lot harder on Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump, I think, is well founded”. I would certainly not do it again.
During the forum, Trump also insisted on repeating a claim that has been previously debunked – that the businessman was “totally against the war in Iraq”.
At a rally in North Carolina Thursday afternoon, Clinton said those endorsements have only grown since the forum, arguing that the event was a “test and he failed it”.
Trump corrected the woman asking the question when he told her there were 22 veterans who kill themselves each day in the U.S.
TRUMP: And I was very, very surprised.
The former Secretary of State was also critical of Trump’s praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who the real estate tycoon said has been a leader far more than Obama.
He cited his team of military advisers, but also said he has “a common sense” that will help him make decisions on foreign policy.
“I have said that my voting to give President Bush that authority was – from my perspective – my mistake”, Clinton said.
“One thing you didn’t hear from Donald Trump last night is any plan to take on ISIS, one of the biggest threats facing our country”, Clinton said, using an acronym for the group. “It’s actually 22”, he said. “I’ve already said he is really very much of a leader”. Stern asked Trump if he supported the looming invasion.
LAUER: Did you learn anything in that briefing – again, not going into specifics – that makes you reconsider some of the things you say you can accomplish, like defeating ISIS quickly?
The televised “Commander-in-Chief” forum on Wednesday, attended by military veterans, was the first time Trump and Clinton had squared off on the same stage since accepting their parties’ White House nominations in July, although they did not appear at the same time. I don’t think the guy’s qualified to be president of the United States. We have to do more about addiction.
Trump expressed support for the sequester in interviews in 2013 – even describing them as too small – but seemed to suggest at the time that military spending should be exempt.
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Some of those Republicans will join Clinton Friday for what she dubbed a “working session” on the threat of terrorism.
