Clinton Slams 'Dangerous,' 'Illegal' Trump Ideas

Donald Trump's ideas on handling the military and dealing with terrorism aren't only offensive, but they're "dangerous and sometimes even illegal," and Americans should not advocate for plans and ideas that will make matters worse, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton declares in an extensive Business Insider interview.

"I think it was said just this week that the way Donald Trump talks about terrorism and his very insulting language towards Muslims is making him the recruiting sergeant for ISIS," Clinton told Business Insider's Henry Blodget.  "You do have to walk a fine line here. And what I have said is that I will take a backseat to no one in keeping America safe. I have a very clear set of proposals about how we defeat ISIS."

And part of that means that "you have to work with people" rather than insult them, she said, also panning GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz's call to "religiously profile them."

Trump's call for using waterboarding and other extreme means of interrogation, along with his other plans, are among the most dangerous statements he's made, said Clinton.

"His attitude towards our longest defense alliance and NATO, that we should somehow walk away from it; his suggestions that the United States should leave the Pacific and let Japan, South Korea, or whoever else wants to develop nuclear weapons, these are incredibly dangerous ideas that need to be confronted," she said.

The former secretary of state said she is criticizing Trump, even though he has not been named as the GOP nominee, because she doesn't want his statements to go unanswered. Even though many Republicans don't like Trump's personality or tactics, they still agree with him on many issues.

Clinton also called Trump's comment on punishing women for getting an abortion, which he quickly changed, "outrageous."

"He did try to walk it back — I think pretty unconvincingly," she said. "But again, what's important here is that the Republicans agree with him. They all want to see women's rights eroded and for abortion to become illegal again."

Overall, Trump is an 'equal opportunity insulter," said Clinton, noting that he started his campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals, and moved on to insult Sen. John McCain's war heroism.

But she said she is not worried about him turning his insults on her, as she has "pretty thick skin."

Related Stories:

• Hillary Already Building List of 'Trump Victims'
• Clinton Uses Criticism of Trump Abortion Remarks to Take Swipe at Sanders