Hillary Clinton took matters into her own hands, quite literally today. The former Secretary of State took to Twitter to lead the press to the Trump water with 20 questions the Republican nominee for president must answer now.
Buckle up, it's a good ride:
In light of @kurteichenwald's report on the Trump Organization's dangerous ties, here are 20 questions that Trump needs to answer—now.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
Clinton is referring to this piece in Newsweek described by author Kurt Eichenwald thusly, "A Pres Trump could not conduct US foreign policy without affecting his personal bank account."
1. Will you sever ties with your company linked to foreign leaders, questionable organizations, and criminals if you become president?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
2. How will you handle non-cancelable contractual obligations with parties whose interests conflict with those of the United States?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
3. While refusing to release your tax returns, how will you confirm that you do not have dangerous financial ties to bad actors abroad?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
4. If you were willing to work with Qaddafi—a known terrorist and dictator—is there anyone you aren't willing to make a deal with? Who?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
5. How can you be tough on Iran, given your business partnership with someone connected to Iranian money laundering? pic.twitter.com/1AdDm2kfvy
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
6. Given that you've already questioned our commitments to NATO allies, what is your answer to this? pic.twitter.com/qp5vMqtcs1
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
7. To what extent would your foreign policy be dictated by potential financial benefits for your business partners? pic.twitter.com/4Nd9KSdTfi
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
8. Will you disclose the nature of your personal and business relationships with all of the Russian oligarchs you are “close" to?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
9. Have you or your campaign discussed U.S.-Russian relations with the Russian billionaires with whom you've done business?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
10. How did the Russian mob boss who ran a criminal organization out of Trump Tower get a VIP pass to your Miss Universe pageant in Moscow?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
11. With business ties to politically-connected Indian developers, how can you conduct foreign policy that puts the U.S. above your profits?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
12. How can we be sure you'd be willing to be tough on any nation if necessary, if it would put your interests and profits at risk?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
13. How can we know you won't (again) impulsively damage relationships with crucial allies to preserve your own ego? https://t.co/j1VtaFhA6C
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
14. We know you engaged extensively in pay-to-play here at home. Have you bribed foreign officials or other parties abroad?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
15. To what extent are you and your family currently contractually tied to payments from foreign business partners, or governments?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
16. You've mentioned ~120 foreign deals, including in countries with national security implications. Where and with whom are you working?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
17. Will your children disclose all of the foreign trips and business deals they've undertaken during the campaign, and with whom they met?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
18. We'll let @kurteichenwald ask this one: pic.twitter.com/xnIl6JazS3
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
19. In sum, how will Trump guarantee that if forced to choose between America's security and his own bank account, he won't pick the latter?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
20. It's pretty clear: Trump's spent his life unscrupulously looking out for his own wallet above all. Why would that change as president?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 14, 2016
And that, ladies and gentleman, is how an experienced and confident leader helps the press deal with the wild lies and broken words of the Republican nominee.
Clinton is helping shape the narrative, and showing her expertise at the same time. Instead of letting the press drag this country down with false equivalences as they get buried by Trump's slippery non-answers and accusations made completely without evidence, Clinton is showing the way.
Here are 20 questions Trump should be answering right now, and unlike the wispy character conspiracies Trump is making up to smear Clinton, these questions – or rather the answers to them – have grave implications for our national security.
We all know Trump will not answer these questions, but the point is to ask them.
Clinton isn't going to wait for the media to sort it out, she's going to draw a big red arrow in the sky. Like a boss.