Leon Panetta tears into Donald Trump for 'irresponsible,' 'inconceivable' calls for Russian hacking

Leon Panetta
(Image credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Former CIA director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta fought through chants from protesters to take down Donald Trump in his Wednesday night address to the Democratic National Convention. As the crowd chanted "No more war," Panetta made the case for why — especially now, as America "faces flashpoints and threats from around the globe" — Trump cannot become the next commander-in-chief. "In an unstable world, we cannot afford unstable leadership," Panetta said, pointing out that Trump "says he gets his foreign policy experience from watching TV and running the Miss Universe Pageant."

Panetta also tore into Trump for taking "Russia's side" Wednesday amid the Democratic National Committee email hack investigation by asking the country to hack into Hillary Clinton's email and, essentially, "interfere in American politics." "It is inconceivable to me that any presidential candidate would be that irresponsible," Panetta said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More