Hillary Clinton scoffed at calls for civility in an increasingly tense political climate, saying there’s nothing “more uncivil and cruel” than President Trump’s immigration policies and people have a right to get angry.

In a tearful interview with The Guardian, the twice-failed presidential candidate said the administration’s policy of separating children at the border, which was recently reversed, has kept her up at night.

“I’m worried that some children will not be reunited,” she said. “If you heard about it in some third-world banana republic, you’d say: ‘That’s horrible! Stop it! Who would do that?’ Now it’s happening in our country, and it’s just so distressing. I think a lot of us keep waiting for the bottom — and it just seems to be bottomless.”

Mr. Trump’s policies at the border have resulted in widespread protests and administration officials being accosted in public and at their homes. Rep. Maxine Waters publicly advocating for the harassment of Cabinet members resulted in calls for civility from both sides of the aisle.

“Oh, give me a break,” Mrs. Clinton told The Guardian. “Give me a break! What is more uncivil and cruel than taking children away? It should be met with resolve and strength. And if some of that comes across as a little uncivil, well, children’s lives are at stake; their futures are at stake. That is that ridiculous concept of bothsideism.”

Asked if she thought the Trump administration was wading into fascistic territory, Mrs. Clinton proceed with caution.

“Well, here’s what I believe. There are certain characteristics of authoritarian leaders trying to isolate and demonize minorities, which we see happening,” she said. “Looking to undermine the rule of law in as many ways as possible, some of which we have seen happening. Going after the press — and recently he called the press the nation’s No 1 enemy. There are certain behaviors that I think would raise anybody’s alarms.”

Mrs. Clinton also bristled at calls for her to retreat from public life.

“I’m sure they said that about Churchill between the wars, didn’t they?” she asked. “I mean, I’m not comparing myself, but I’m just saying people said that, but he was right about Hitler, and a lot of people in England were wrong. And Churchill was a pain. He kept popping up all the time.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she added.