Hillary Clinton is adding her voice to the Democratic Party’s growing debate over what went wrong in 2024, saying Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term was a “terrible mistake” that damaged his legacy and helped cost Democrats the presidency.
Speaking at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee said Biden should have announced in 2023 that he would not run again. Clinton argued that an open Democratic primary would have given the party a better chance to choose a stronger nominee before facing Donald Trump in the general election.
According to reports from the event, Clinton said Biden’s decision was a mistake “for himself, his legacy, and for the country.” She also suggested that Biden had previously indicated he would step aside, but later chose to stay in the race.
Clinton said Democrats were left in a difficult position once Biden continued his campaign and waited until the summer of 2024 to exit the race. By then, the party had little time to hold a real primary or give another candidate a full national campaign.
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Biden ended his re-election bid in July 2024 after a poor debate performance against Trump intensified concerns about his age, stamina and ability to campaign effectively. He later endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee but lost to Trump in November.
Clinton argued that if Biden had stepped aside earlier, Democrats could have held a genuine contest between Harris, governors, senators and other possible candidates. She said she believes whoever emerged from that process would have had a stronger chance of defeating Trump.
That claim is likely to spark debate. Some Democrats agree that Biden’s late withdrawal left the party scrambling and prevented voters from fully testing alternatives. Others argue that the party’s 2024 problems went deeper than Biden’s age or timing.
Post-election analysis has pointed to several challenges Democrats faced, including voter frustration over the economy, immigration, public safety, inflation and the party’s message to working-class voters. Some internal reviews also found that Democrats had lost ground in many parts of the country over a longer period, not only during the 2024 campaign.
Clinton’s comments are still politically significant because she is one of the most recognizable figures in the Democratic Party. Her criticism reflects a broader willingness among Democrats to openly question Biden’s decision-making after years of party leaders defending him publicly.
The remarks may also complicate Biden’s legacy. His supporters argue that he defeated Trump in 2020, passed major legislation and guided the country through a difficult period. His critics inside the party now say his decision to run again prevented Democrats from preparing for the next generation of leadership.
For Harris, Clinton’s comments may reopen questions about whether she was treated fairly by the party or placed in an impossible position. Taking over a presidential campaign only months before Election Day left her with limited time to define herself separately from Biden or build a national operation around her own message.
Republicans are likely to use Clinton’s remarks as evidence that even senior Democrats now believe Biden’s re-election campaign was flawed from the beginning. Democrats, meanwhile, may see the discussion as part of a necessary reckoning before the next presidential cycle.
The larger issue is whether the party can learn from 2024 without becoming trapped in blame. Clinton’s comments focus on Biden’s personal decision to run again, but the Democratic Party’s next challenge is broader: finding a message, candidate and strategy that can rebuild trust with voters who moved toward Trump.
Why It Matters
Clinton’s comments matter because they put a major Democratic figure on record saying Biden’s 2024 decision hurt the party. That adds weight to internal arguments that Democrats needed a real primary and a smoother generational transition.
The remarks also show that the party is still debating whether the 2024 loss was mainly about Biden’s age and timing, or about deeper problems with the Democratic brand, economy message and voter coalition.
What Comes Next
Democrats are likely to continue debating Biden’s role in the 2024 defeat as the party prepares for future elections. Potential 2028 candidates may use the criticism to argue for a more open and competitive nominating process.
Biden’s allies may push back by defending his record and arguing that the party’s problems were larger than one candidate. But Clinton’s comments will likely keep the question alive: should Biden have stepped aside earlier?
CBS News shared video of Hillary Clinton saying Biden made a “terrible mistake” by seeking re-election in 2024.
Hillary Clinton said former President Joe Biden made a “terrible mistake” by running for reelection in 2024, arguing another Democratic nominee would have defeated President Trump had the party held a competitive primary.
“He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy and… pic.twitter.com/6yakfsCMfv
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 16, 2026
