Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is publicly criticizing former President Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term in 2024, arguing that his choice to remain in the race damaged both his political legacy and the Democratic Party’s chances of retaining the White House, as reported [1] by The Post Millennial.
Speaking Monday during a conversation with New Yorker editor David Remnick in New York City, Clinton said Biden should have stepped aside well before the 2024 election cycle intensified and allowed Democrats to choose a nominee through a competitive primary process.
Clinton’s remarks come nearly two years after President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 general election following Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
According to Clinton, Biden’s decision to pursue re-election created a difficult situation for Democrats and ultimately contributed to the party’s defeat.
“He made a terrible mistake. He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country.”
The former Democratic presidential nominee argued that Biden should have announced in 2023 that he would not seek another term.
“I believe if he had kept to that plan and said, in, say, the late summer of ’23, that he wasn’t going to run, that he was going to pass the torch to the next generation, we would have had a real contest,” she said.
Clinton also expressed confidence that a different Democratic nominee emerging from a competitive primary would have had a stronger chance against Trump in the general election.
“Very sadly, I believe whoever emerged from that contest would have beaten Donald Trump,” Clinton said.
Questions about Biden’s age and fitness for office were a recurring issue throughout much of his presidency and became a central topic during the 2024 campaign.
For months before Biden’s June 2024 debate against Trump, polling consistently showed voter concerns regarding his age and ability to serve another four years.
Republicans repeatedly highlighted instances in which Biden appeared confused, struggled through public remarks, or delivered uneven performances during speeches and events.
Democratic officials and many media figures frequently pushed back against those concerns and defended Biden’s ability to continue serving.
The issue intensified following Biden’s debate performance against Trump in June 2024, which prompted increased scrutiny from donors, elected officials, and party leaders.
Calls for Biden to leave the race grew in the weeks that followed as concerns mounted within Democratic circles about the party’s ability to compete in November.
Reflecting on that period, Clinton said Democrats found themselves trapped once Biden decided to remain in the race.
“But once he didn’t move,” Clinton said, “and held on for as long as he did, we were in a terrible dilemma.”
Biden eventually ended his re-election campaign in July 2024 after weeks of pressure from influential Democrats, major donors, and party operatives.
His departure left Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee. Harris secured the nomination without participating in a contested primary campaign after Biden exited the race.
Democrats were then forced to quickly assemble a national campaign heading into the final months of the election season.
Trump ultimately defeated Harris and returned to the White House, securing a second non-consecutive term as president.
Clinton’s comments represent one of the strongest public criticisms of Biden’s 2024 campaign decision from a prominent Democrat.
Her remarks also add to an ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over whether an earlier transition to a new generation of leadership could have changed the outcome of the election.
The comments come as Democrats continue evaluating the events that led to their loss in 2024 and weigh potential paths forward ahead of future national elections.