Hillary Clinton Calls Joe Biden’s 2024 Re-Election Bid a “Terrible Mistake”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told New Yorker editor David Remnick that President Joe Biden’s decision to run for a second term in 2024 was “a terrible mistake” that harmed his legacy, the Democratic Party, and the nation. She said the choice created a “terrible dilemma” for party leaders and contributed to the party’s loss to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

Daily CallerHillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

Biden, inaugurated at age 78 in January 2021, faced ongoing health speculation. In the June 2024 debate he froze mid-sentence and falsely claimed no U.S. troops died in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Jill Biden later wrote she thought he was having a stroke, though her memoir praised his performance as a “great job” and “answered all the questions.” Biden had earlier signaled he would not seek re-election, a promise Clinton says he abandoned after “seeing the polls” and a “horrendous public disaster” in the debate.

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the countryDaily Caller

Key figures: Hillary Clinton (2016 Democratic nominee), President Joe Biden (incumbent), First Lady Jill Biden, President Donald Trump, and New Yorker editor David Remnick.

Daily CallerHillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

Timeline: June 2024 debate; July 2024 election.

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

Biden, inaugurated at 78, faced his first major health scrutiny during the June 2024 debate; the election resulted in a Republican victory.

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Clinton’s remarks have spurred calls for an honest assessment before the 2028 cycle, with critics saying a competitive primary might have beaten Trump.

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

Clinton said Biden’s refusal to step aside after promising not to run left the party without a viable alternative, forcing leaders to rationalize his performance. Jill Biden’s memoir mixes public praise of the debate with private concern about a stroke; some officials still believed Biden could have won a second term.

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Other Democratic insiders cite economic concerns and voter fatigue as additional factors, arguing the re-election bid alone does not explain the loss.

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No data directly links Biden’s candidacy to the result, and the debate’s impact on voters remains unquantified.

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

• “He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy and for the country,” — Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

• “I think it was a terrible miscalculation on the part of President Biden,” — Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton says Biden re-election bid was a ‘terrible mistake’ for the country

• “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,” — Hillary Clinton

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Democratic leaders have begun internal reviews and candidate-selection workshops to avoid a repeat, emphasizing early primaries and health screening.

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