"I think that what this country needs at a very dangerous time is responsible leadership in the real world," Leon Panetta said. | AP Photo Leon Panetta endorses Hillary Clinton

Leon Panetta made official his endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president on Thursday, remarking upon her experience and credentials to tackle global issues while dismissing worsening conditions around the globe that critics have attributed to her time at the State Department.

"I’ve endorsed Hillary Clinton, and I've also helped provide advice on defense and foreign policy issues," said Panetta, who served as both director of the Central Intelligence Agency and as defense secretary in the Obama administration, in an interview on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports."


"I think that what this country needs at a very dangerous time is responsible leadership in the real world," Panetta continued. "Not in a fantasy world, but in the real world, and she is somebody who has that experience, and for that reason, that's why I support her."

He also took a shot at the Republican currently leading the polls.

Asked whether Donald Trump was justified in raising the issue of Bill Clinton's past sexual misconduct in light of his wife's campaign claiming he is sexist, Panetta remarked that he thought the American people would rather hear more substance.

“I’d like to hear from Donald Trump a little bit of the substance of what the hell he’s talking about," he said. "I think that’s what we ought to be hearing more about.”

Pressed by Mitchell on the issues that have seemingly only worsened after Clinton's time as secretary of state, like the rise of the Islamic State and the continued belligerence of North Korea, Panetta said she was qualified because she "understands the challenges that are there."

"She understands the world we live in, she understands the complications of it," he said. "Of course, you know, look, going back to Republican administrations as well as Democratic administrations, there is a responsibility for both the good things that happened as well as the bad things that happened. But in the end the real question is, does someone have the ability to be able to deal with other world leaders, to be able to represent our national security interests in dealing with those countries and has the credibility to be able to engage in that kind of world?"

Those qualities are "critical" in a world in which the United States is facing so many threats, he added.

It's not the first time Panetta has at least voiced support for Clinton's candidacy. In October 2014 while promoting his book, "Worthy Fights," Panetta said he would "absolutely" back his former administration colleague if she ran a second time.

Recounting his endorsement of Clinton in the 2008 cycle, Panetta wrote in his book that he "admired her intelligence, tenacity, and decisiveness" and hosted events for her in his home state of California.

"Yes, we had disagreed on occasion," he wrote. "I had favored deficit reduction over what I regarded as an uncertain course on health care reform, and she initially watched over my work as chief of staff to make sure I was sufficiently protective of her husband — but we had come to trust each other, and there were few people in politics whose acumen I more admired."