Hillary Clinton is joining the growing list of Democrats now openly second-guessing what happened in 2024, and this time the criticism is aimed directly at former President Joe Biden.
In a recent interview with New Yorker editor David Remnick, Clinton said Biden’s decision to pursue a second term was a “terrible mistake,” arguing that Democrats missed their opportunity to hold a competitive primary that could have changed the outcome of the election.
“We would have had a real contest,” Clinton said. “He made a terrible mistake. He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country.”
Clinton went even further, suggesting that virtually any Democrat emerging from that process—whether the vice president, a governor, or a senator—would have defeated President Donald Trump.
“So I think it was a terrible miscalculation on the part of President Biden,” she added.
The remarks stand in noticeable contrast to Clinton’s public messaging during the 2024 campaign. She remained supportive of Biden until he exited the race and quickly shifted behind Vice President Kamala Harris during her late-stage effort against Trump.
At the time, Clinton praised Harris and framed the election around opposition to Trump, urging supporters to rally behind the Democratic ticket.
Now, however, the conversation appears to be changing.
Clinton’s comments arrive as Democrats continue examining what went wrong during their election defeat. In May, the party released its long-awaited post-election review, which included difficult conclusions about campaign strategy, messaging, and voter engagement.
Among the report’s observations was the suggestion that Democrats leaned too heavily on opposition to Trump while failing to give voters a compelling affirmative case for Harris. One section reportedly argued that Harris struggled to define her candidacy beyond themes centered on being “not Trump” and contrasting her background with his.
The report also pointed to messaging problems and broader concerns about how the party connected with voters.
Notably absent from the discussion, according to critics, was extensive focus on Biden’s age or the lasting impact of his debate performance—issues that dominated public conversation throughout the campaign.
For many political observers, Clinton’s comments reflect a broader shift now taking place inside Democratic circles as figures who once defended party decisions begin offering far more candid assessments after the fact.
Politics can be unforgiving. Support is enthusiastic during the campaign, accountability tends to show up afterward.
As Democrats continue debating what happened and what comes next, one thing appears increasingly clear: conversations that were once kept private are now happening out in the open, and the search for answers inside the party is far from over.
