Clinton says Biden's delayed withdrawal from 2024 race was a 'terrible mistake'

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believes that President Joe Biden committed a "terrible mistake" by not withdrawing from the 2024 presidential election sooner. Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump in 2016, asserted that Biden's decision not to step aside earlier cost him, his legacy, and the country.

Speaking at a forum in New York, Clinton argued that if Biden had announced his intention not to seek re-election a year before the election, the Democratic Party would have had ample time to rally behind a candidate capable of defeating Trump. Instead, Biden announced his withdrawal in July 2024, just three months before the election, amid growing internal party pressure and concerns about his age and fitness for office at 81.

Following Biden's withdrawal, Vice President Kamala Harris assumed the Democratic nomination. However, she was defeated by Trump in the November 3, 2024, election after a truncated campaign of approximately 100 days. Clinton's remarks come as former First Lady Jill Biden promotes her book, in which she defends her husband's tenure.