Clinton and Sanders condemn, explain how they'd each beat 'pathological liar' Donald Trump


At a Democratic town hall in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday night, presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders fielded questions from voters, CNN's Jake Tapper, and TV One's Roland Martin. Clinton and Sanders appeared separately, and both spent a good deal of their time talking about Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. Referring to violence at Trump's rallies, Clinton accused him of committing "political arson," saying Trump "has lit the fire and then he throws his hands up and claims that he shouldn't be held responsible."
Tapper showed a clip of Trump blaming Sanders and his supporters for forcing Trump to cancel a rally in Chicago, then asked for Sanders' response. "I hate to say this, because I hate to disparage public officials, but Donald Trump is a pathological liar," Sanders said, to cheers from the audience. Referring to Trump saying he might pay the legal fees of a man who sucker-punched a protester, Sanders added: "Donald Trump is literally inciting violence with his supporters. He's saying, 'If you go out and beat somebody up, that's OK, I'll pay the legal fees.' That's an outrage, and I hope Mr. Trump tones it down big time."
Clinton and Sanders also discussed how each one planned to beat Trump, assuming he wins the GOP nomination. Clinton said she's "not going to spill the beans right now, but suffice it to say, there are many arguments we could use against him." Then she at least showed some beans, suggesting she would focus on how Trump undermines America's "standing in the world." "I'm having foreign leaders ask if they can endorse me and stop Donald Trump," she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sanders said that he would bring out enough young voters, because "the excitement and the energy for large voter turnouts is with the Sanders campaign." He also said "the American public is not going to elect a president... insulting virtually everybody who is not like Donald Trump. Thank God most people are not like Donald Trump."
Even on trade, an issue Sanders used as a cudgel against Clinton in Michigan, Sanders took a swipe at Trump. "Of course we're going to do trade," Sanders said. "Nobody is talking about building a wall around the United States. Of course we value trade — Oh, I beg your pardon, there is one guy who is talking about building a wall. Let me rephrase it, no rational person is talking about building a wall." Ohio and several other states vote on Tuesday.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Arise, Sir Goldenballs': David Beckham plays the long game in quest for knighthood
Talking Point Former footballer set to be knighted in King's birthday honours after years of snubs
-
Quiz of The Week: 31 May – 6 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How did Japan become a space superpower?
Podcast Plus, why on earth are Labubu dolls so popular? Will buy-now-pay-later cause a new financial crisis?
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel ban
Speed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
Elon Musk slams Trump's 'pork-filled' signature bill
speed read 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk posted on X
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge