Hillary Clinton, the 2016 presidential candidate against Donald Trump, has recently vocalized severe accusations against the former president while expressing her support for Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 election. During an appearance on the “Democracy Docket” podcast, hosted by Marc Elias, a Democratic election lawyer and former general counsel on her campaign, Clinton did not mince words about the dangers she perceived if Trump were to be re-elected.
Clinton described Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and made alarming predictions about his potential actions if he returns to power. She said that Trump’s admiration for leaders like Vladimir Putin arises from their ability to suppress opposition without accountability. She accused Trump of wanting to emulate Putin’s actions, such as harming and imprisoning political opponents and stifling free press.
She even extended the comparison to other authoritarian figures like North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, suggesting that Trump sees these leaders as models for his own conduct. Discussing the potential risks associated with Trump’s leadership, Clinton drew parallels between his behavior and the actions of notorious dictators throughout history, per Fox News.
She expressed concerns about Trump’s approach to international relationships, particularly with NATO, and his perceived indifference towards European stability. Clinton specifically pointed out the danger of Trump’s favorable stance towards Putin, which she argued could lead to weakened alliances and reduced surveillance on global threats.
In her conversation, Clinton also highlighted her support for Joe Biden, acknowledging his age but praising his effectiveness, compassion, and genuine concern for the well-being of Americans. She contrasted this with Trump, whom she criticized not only for his age but also for the legal entanglements he faces, including numerous federal criminal indictments.
Moreover, Clinton reiterated her longstanding concerns about Trump’s connections with Russia, suggesting that his return to the presidency could lead to significant geopolitical shifts, such as withdrawing the U.S. from NATO and failing to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. She painted a bleak picture of what Trump’s leadership might entail, including a disregard for democratic norms and an increase in authoritarian governance within the United States.
Clinton’s remarks on the podcast mirror comments she made on ABC’s “The View” in November 2023, where she discussed the historical dangers of electing leaders with authoritarian tendencies, explicitly comparing Trump to figures like Hitler who rose to power through democratic means but later subverted their systems to establish dictatorships, the Washington Examiner.
However, Trump’s spokesperson has dismissed Clinton’s comments as symptomatic of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” accusing her of being unable to accept the outcome of the 2016 election and of misleading the public with her statements.
Clinton’s dire warnings about Trump’s potential return to the White House underscore her ongoing commitment to defending democratic values and her fears about the future trajectory of the United States under Trump’s leadership. Her outspoken stance continues to fuel the debate over the implications of Trump’s candidacy as the 2024 presidential election approaches.