NEW YORK — Hillary Clinton’s recent criticism of Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection bid is stirring fresh debate among Democrats, with the former secretary of state saying the then-president made “a terrible mistake” by running for another term.
In a June interview at New York’s 92nd Street Y, Clinton argued that Biden’s decision to seek reelection hurt both his legacy and the country, according to multiple news reports. She said Biden had previously indicated he would not run again, and suggested that an open Democratic primary might have produced a nominee better positioned to defeat Donald Trump.
Clinton’s comments, widely shared in a short video clip on social media, add a new layer to post‑election scrutiny of how Democrats handled the 2024 race. The clip has circulated heavily among Filipino American and other Asian American viewers, many of whom backed Biden in 2020 and watched the 2024 rematch with particular concern over issues such as immigration, health care and U.S.–Asia relations.
Though Biden and his allies had long defended his decision to run again as a bid to protect democracy and continue his policy agenda, Clinton’s remarks underscore a continuing internal reckoning for Democrats. Her assertion that “anybody else” could have had a better chance against Trump, as some outlets paraphrased, highlights ongoing questions about party leadership, age and succession planning at the highest level.
For Filipino Americans, who are part of the nation’s fastest‑growing major racial or ethnic group, the timing and source of this critique are notable. Clinton has spent years cultivating ties with Asian American communities, including Filipino Americans, during and after her own presidential run. She has frequently framed diversity and representation as central to America’s strength, language that has resonated with many immigrant communities.
That connection to Filipino Americans includes a warm message she sent in 2016 to The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA), a New York‑based event that honors Filipino American leaders in fields ranging from public service and media to arts and business. In that message, Clinton praised the contributions of Asian Americans and singled out TOFA for lifting up Filipino American voices.
“As the fastest‑growing minority population in the United States, Asian Americans are helping to grow the diversity that is the bedrock of our country,” Clinton said in her message to TOFA Awards. “That’s why I am so grateful to TOFA for its vital work to unify and pay tribute to the Filipino American community and to ensure that you are represented in our policies and leadership positions, in every industry in our country.”
