Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is breaking with years of public support for former President Joe Biden, saying his decision to seek reelection in 2024 was a “terrible mistake” that damaged both his legacy and the country.
Speaking with New Yorker editor David Remnick at a 92nd Street Y event in New York, Clinton argued that Biden should have stepped aside and allowed a competitive Democratic primary to produce a new nominee.
“He made a terrible mistake,” Clinton said. “He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country.”
Clinton suggested Democrats would likely have defeated President Donald Trump if Biden had not sought a second term.
“We would have had a real contest,” she said. “And very sadly I believe whoever emerged from that contest, whether it was the vice president or a governor or a senator or anybody else, would have beaten Donald Trump.”
“So I think it was a terrible miscalculation on the part of President Biden.”
Hillary Clinton said former President Joe Biden made a “terrible mistake” by running for reelection in 2024, arguing another Democratic nominee would have defeated President Trump had the party held a competitive primary.
“He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy and… pic.twitter.com/6yakfsCMfv
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 16, 2026
The remarks mark a notable shift from Clinton’s public position during Biden’s presidency. In a 2023 interview with Forbes, she backed the possibility of a second Biden campaign.
“I think he’s done a really terrific job and so yes, I want him to run if that’s what he wants to do, and of course, I’ll support him,” Clinton said at the time.
Even after Biden’s widely criticized debate performance against Trump in 2024 sparked panic within Democratic circles, Clinton remained publicly loyal to the incumbent president as prominent Democrats debated whether he should stay in the race.
Her latest comments add to a growing post-election reckoning inside the Democratic Party over Biden’s decision to run again despite concerns about his age, stamina and political standing.
Critics have argued that an open primary could have produced a stronger nominee, while Biden allies maintain that he remained the party’s best chance to defeat Trump.
