According to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the blame for the rise of ISIS can be placed squarely on the shoulders of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
"She helped create ISIS," Giuliani said during an interview with Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor Wednesday night. Then he went further: "Hillary Clinton could be considered a founding member of ISIS."
Giuliani said Clinton "had her chance" to stop the terrorist group's rise when she was secretary of state and, essentially, her failure to intervene in Syria "in the proper time" makes her culpable. He then detailed all the ways Clinton is responsible: "By being part of an administration that withdrew from Iraq. By being part of an administration that let [Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki] run Iraq into the ground, so you forced the Shiites to make a choice. By not intervening in Syria at the proper time. By being part of an administration that drew 12 lines in the sand and made a joke out of it."
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.
O'Reilly pointed out, however, that the responsibility might not rest solely on Clinton's shoulders, since she was working for the Obama administration. The most she could've done, O'Reilly said, is resign to push Obama to change his policy. "Yeah," Giuliani responded. "Which is what a patriot does."
-
Margaret Atwood’s ‘deliciously naughty’ memoirIn the Spotlight ‘Bean-spilling’ book by The Handmaid’s Tale author is ‘immensely readable’
-
Being a school crossing guard has become a deadly jobUnder the Radar At least 230 crossing guards have been hit by cars over the last decade
-
Crossword: November 4, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
