Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized President Joe Biden's decision to pursue a second term, labeling it a 'terrible mistake' that ultimately cost Democrats the presidency. Speaking at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, Clinton asserted that Biden had broken a prior commitment to step aside, a move she described as a 'betrayal' with catastrophic consequences.
Clinton contended that if Biden had announced his withdrawal from the race by late summer 2023, a competitive Democratic primary would have yielded a stronger nominee. She expressed confidence that 'whoever emerged from that contest... would have beaten Donald Trump,' calling Biden's decision to remain a 'terrible miscalculation.'
The article notes that Biden ultimately withdrew from the presidential race in July 2024 after a widely criticized debate performance, subsequently handing the nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris, however, lost the general election to Trump. The piece also references a 2025 report identifying core issues in the Democratic defeat, including a desire for economic change and a media advantage for Republicans, alongside misalignments on issues like Gaza and immigration.