Hillary Clinton: Biden's Re-election Bid Was 'Terrible Mistake' That Cost Democrats Presidency

Hillary Clinton has asserted that President Joe Biden's choice to pursue a second term was a "terrible mistake" that not only cost Democrats the presidency but may have also permanently tarnished his legacy. Speaking at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, the former U.S. secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee claimed Biden had reneged on an earlier promise to withdraw from the political arena, a betrayal she deemed catastrophic.

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He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country.

"He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country," Clinton declared. She argued that if Biden had announced his intention not to run in late summer 2023, a genuine Democratic primary contest would have yielded a stronger candidate. "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," she stated, characterizing Biden's decision to remain in the race as a "terrible miscalculation."

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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.

The article notes that Biden ultimately withdrew his re-election bid in July 2024, following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump. His wife, Jill Biden, recently disclosed her belief that he might have been having a stroke during the event. Biden subsequently handed over the nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris in August, who ultimately lost the general election to Trump. However, Clinton's assertion that any Democrat could have defeated Trump is presented with a note of caution.

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a terrible miscalculation

A 2025 report from the left-leaning organization Way to Win identified key factors contributing to the 2024 defeat, including voter desire for economic change, a structural media advantage for Republicans, and a misalignment between the Democratic Party and progressive movements concerning Gaza, racial justice, and immigration. An internal review also pointed to a series of mistakes by a party that had lost ground across all levels of government over nearly two decades. Clinton concluded her remarks by explaining the "terrible dilemma" Democrats faced once Biden decided not to step aside as previously indicated.

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once [Biden] didn’t move and did not, you know, admit that he had said he was going to step aside, and then decided not to, and held on for as long as he did, we were in a terrible dilemma.