Democrats could have beaten Trump if Biden had stepped aside, Hillary Clinton says

Clinton said that, had Biden decided not to run for reelection, whichever Democrat emerged successful from a competitive primary could have beaten Trump.

By Kevin Killough

Published: June 17, 2026 1:54pm

Hillary Clinton said that former President Joe Biden made a "terrible mistake" when he decided to run for reelection.

The remarks were made at an event in Manhattan on Monday, the New York Times reported.

Biden's decision, Clinton said, was a "terrible miscalculation" that resulted in the Democratic Party's loss in 2024. If instead of running for reelection, Biden had decided to "pass the torch," Democrats could have held a competitive presidential primary.

“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," Clinton said.