Hillary Clinton rips ‘dangerously incoherent’ Donald Trump

In what her presidential campaign billed as a “major national security speech,” Hillary Clinton offered a searing indictment on Thursday of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton argued that Trump’s policies on both foreign and domestic issues would endanger the country and said electing him would be a “historic mistake.” She also attacked the billionaire businessman for his “temperament” and lack of political experience.

“I believe the person the Republicans have nominated for president cannot do the job. Donald Trump’s ideas aren’t just different, they are dangerously incoherent. They’re not even really ideas — just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds and outright lies,” Clinton said, adding, “He is not just unprepared; he is temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability and immense responsibility.”

Speaking in San Diego, Calif., a city that is home to many members of the armed forces, Clinton slammed Trump for a slew of his past comments. Among other things, she referenced his criticism of American allies and statements in which he called the country “weak and ineffective.”

“If you really believe America is weak with our military, our values and our capabilities that no other country comes close to matching, then you don’t know America and you certainly don’t deserve to lead it,” said Clinton. “That’s why, even if I weren’t in this race, I’d be doing everything I could to make sure Donald Trump never becomes president because I believe he will take our country down a truly dangerous path.”

Clinton’s speech was the beginning of several days of campaign events in California, which — along with five other states — will hold its Democratic primary on June 7. Polls currently show Clinton is in a tight race in the Golden State against her primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. However, Clinton’s existing pledged delegate lead means it is highly improbable Sanders will overtake her.

On Thursday, Clinton entirely ignored Sanders to focus her fire on Trump. She emphasized her experience as a former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.

“Unlike him, I have some experience with the tough calls and the hard work of statecraft,” Clinton said of Trump.

While her remarks largely dealt with foreign policy issues, Clinton also stressed the need “to be strong at home,” which she said requires “investing in our infrastructure, education and innovation.” Clinton also called for reducing income inequality and eliminating “barriers of bigotry and discrimination.” She contrasted these points with Trump’s domestic policies, which she described as costly and divisive.

“He has no ideas on education, no ideas on innovation; he has a lot of ideas about who to blame but no clue about what to do,” said Clinton. “None of what Donald Trump is offering would make America stronger at home — and that would make us weaker in the world.”

Clinton also stressed the need to maintain strong relationships with American allies. She suggested several elements of Trump’s platform put these bonds in danger.

“It is no small passing thing when he talks about leaving NATO or says he’ll stay neutral on Israel’s security. It’s no small thing when he calls Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers,” she said of Trump. “We’re lucky to have two friendly neighbors on our land borders. Why would we want to make one of them an enemy?”

Clinton lambasted Trump for his criticism of the Iran nuclear deal, which she cited as an example of diplomacy that made the U.S. safer.

“Donald Trump doesn’t know the first thing about Iran or its nuclear program. Ask him. It’ll become very clear very quickly. You know, there’s no risk of people losing their lives if you blow up a golf course deal, but it doesn’t work like that in world affairs,” she said. “The stakes in global statecraft are infinitely higher and more complex than in the world of luxury hotels.”

She went on to criticize Trump’s overall approach to politics, which she said “won’t do the trick.”

“We all know the tools Donald Trump brings to the table: bragging, mocking, composing nasty tweets,” Clinton said. “I’m willing to bet he’s writing a few right now,” she added.

Trump did indeed send three tweets during the speech, criticizing Clinton’s remarks as a “bad performance.” He accused her of trying “to totally misrepresent my foreign policy positions.”

“Reading poorly from the telepromter! [sic] She doesn’t even look presidential!” Trump wrote.

In other parts of the speech, Clinton specifically criticized Trump for remarks he’s made about U.S. “rivals.”

“I don’t understand Donald’s bizarre fascination with dictators and strongmen who have no love for America. He praised China for the Tiananmen Square massacre. He said it showed strength. He said you’ve got to give Kim Jong Un credit for taking over North Korea. … And he said if he were grading Vladimir Putin as a leader, he would give him an ‘A,’” said Clinton.

“Now, I will leave it to the psychiatrists to explain his affection for tyrants,” she continued. “I just wonder how anyone could be so wrong about who America’s real friends are.”

She also argued that Trump does not have a “real plan for confronting terrorists” and the jihadist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Clinton cited Trump’s call to bar Muslim immigrants and tourists from entering the country as something that would help ISIS.

“Through all his loose talk, there’s one constant theme: demonizing Muslims and playing right into the hands of ISIS. His proposal to ban 1.5 billion Muslims from even coming to our country doesn’t just violate the religious freedom our country was founded on; it’s a huge propaganda victory for ISIS and it alienates the very countries we need to help us win in this fight,” Clinton said.

She said “a Trump presidency would embolden ISIS.”

“We cannot take that risk,” Clinton declared. “This isn’t reality television. This is actual reality.”

In still other parts of her wide-ranging address, Clinton criticized Trump for disparaging comments he has made about people with disabilities, minorities and women. She said this “bigotry” could damage “the moral example we set for the world.” Clinton repeatedly referenced the fact that, as secretary of state, she was present in the situation room as President Obama oversaw the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

“Imagine Donald Trump sitting in the situation room making life-or-death decisions on behalf of the United States. Imagine him deciding whether to send your spouses or children into battle. Imagine if he had not just his Twitter account at his disposal when he’s angry, but America’s entire arsenal,” Clinton said. “Do we want him making those calls, someone thin-skinned and quick to anger who lashes out at the smallest criticism? Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?”

Clinton concluded by saying a hypothetical Trump victory would “fuel an ugly narrative about who we are,” and by blasting his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you that America isn’t great. Donald Trump’s got America all wrong,” said Clinton. “We are a bighearted, fair-minded country. There is no challenge we can’t meet, no goal we can’t achieve when we each do our part and come together as one nation.”