Clinton Criticizes Biden’s 2024 Re-Election Bid
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated that President Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term was a "terrible mistake" that cost the Democratic Party the 2024 presidential election and may have permanently harmed his legacy.
Speaking at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan on Monday, Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, criticized Biden for breaking a prior commitment to step aside. She described this reversal as catastrophic, saying:
"He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country."
Potential Impact of a Genuine Democratic Primary
Clinton argued that if Biden had announced in late summer 2023 that he would not run, a genuine Democratic primary would have produced a stronger nominee. She stated:
"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,"
calling Biden’s decision to remain in the race "a terrible miscalculation."
Biden’s Withdrawal and Election Outcome
Biden eventually withdrew his re-election bid in July 2024 after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. During that debate, Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, recently revealed that she believed he was unwell while watching him. Following Biden’s withdrawal, he handed the nomination to his vice president, Kamala Harris, in August 2024. Harris subsequently lost the general election to Trump a few months later.
Analysis of Democratic Defeat
Despite Clinton’s assertion that any Democrat would have defeated Trump, this claim warrants further examination. A 2025 report from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) analyzing the 2024 defeat identified three primary issues: voters’ desire for economic change; Republicans’ structural media advantage; and misalignment between left-wing movements on Gaza, racial justice, and immigration with the party’s platform.
Additionally, an internal review of the Democrats’ losses described a series of mistakes and characterized the party as having lost ground at every level of government for nearly two decades.
Clinton’s Reflection on Biden’s Decision
In her remarks, Clinton explained the dilemma caused by Biden’s decision to remain in the race despite his earlier indication he would step aside:
"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."
