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Clinton responds to 'distressing' Brussels attacks: 'Unrealistic' to shut borders

Hillary Clinton took aim at her Republican counterpart's reaction to the "deeply distressing" bombings in Brussels Tuesday.
Democratic presidential hopeful former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives to speak at an event in Washington, D.C., March 21, 2016. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty)
Democratic presidential hopeful former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives to speak during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) 2016 Policy Conference at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., March 21, 2016.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took aim at her Republican counterpart's reaction to the "deeply distressing" bombings in Brussels Tuesday, describing Donald Trump's call for tightening American borders impractical.

"It's unrealistic to say we're going to completely shut down our borders to everyone. That would stop commerce, for example, and that's not in anybody's interest," she told TODAY's Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer in her first interview since the attack.

Instead, Clinton suggested U.S. officials do a better job coordinating with Europeans in tracking potential suspects.

"This is a time for us to reaffirm our solidarity with our European friends and allies, individually and through NATO," she said.

Earlier on TODAY, Trump said he would be "very, very tough on the borders" if he were president, and resort to torture techniques on suspects if necessary to obtain vital information.

Clinton rejected that reasoning, pointing out that U.S. military leaders have said that torture is not an effective tool and often results in putting American soldiers, and civilians, at risk.

"I know that Americans have every reason to be frightened by what they see," she said referring to the chaotic scene in Brussels.

The former Secretary of State has repeatedly stressed her experience on security and working with foreign leaders.

During her speech Monday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Clinton described the nation's need for "steady hands" in its next leader, which many perceived as a criticism of Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

This article originally appeared on TODAY.com.