Hillary Clinton was in Manhattan Friday, meeting with national security figures ahead of the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, while her Republican rival, Donald Trump, faulted her for another nuclear test in North Korea. Josh Robin filed the following report.
The Democrat met for nearly two hours with former counterterrorism experts from both Democratic and Republican administrations.
"When it comes to questions of war, peace and the security of our country, we can't let party affiliations stand between us," Hillary Clinton said.
Clinton calls it a way to prepare for the presidency.
It was also a visual tool to differentiate herself from Donald Trump.
On Russia, for instance, Trump is praising leader Vladimir Putin and appearing on Russian state TV.
"Can I say I was surprised? I'm not sure anything surprises us any more. But I was certainly disappointed," Clinton said.
Clinton and her advisors add that Trump is also undermining counterterrorism by remarks on Muslims like a ban he's since inched away from.
"If we have a Muslim community in the United States that is unsettled, that is not feeling secure ,than those people are not going to be good partners for the for the authorities as we try to identify people who are being radicalized," said Daniel Benjamin, former coordinator for counterterrorism for the U.S. Department of State.
Trump spoke before Evangelicals at the Values Voters Summit.
"A Trump administration, our Christian heritage will be cherished, protected, defended like you’ve never seen before," he said.
He also tied Clinton to another nuclear test by North Korea.
"It's just one more massive failure from a failed secretary of state," Trump said.
Clinton calls for a rethinking of the strategy.
As for September 11th, Clinton was New York’s senator then. Its memory hung over the room.
"I think it's one of those things that's always present in how we think about the terrorism fight," said Matt Olsen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
Trump's plans for the 15th anniversary were unclear. A spokeswoman did not get back to NY1.
Clinton will again be in New York on September 11th. An spokesman says she will pay respects at the memorial in Lower Manhattan but not speak publicly. The aide stressed it's not to be seen as a campaign event.