Hillary Clinton Seems to Have Gained No Insight from Her 2016 ‘Basket of Deplorables’ Comment

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made remarks characterizing many Republican women as “handmade,” critiquing them during a discussion held at the 92nd Street Y in New York on May 1. This came in response to a question posed by interviewer Margaret Hoover, who asked what advice Clinton would give to the first female president of the United States. Clinton’s comments seem reminiscent of her past mention of President Donald Trump’s supporters being part of a “deplorable basket.”

During the discussion, Clinton cautioned against “patriarchal” attitudes, implying that it unfairly dismisses a number of women from the opposing political side. She specifically referenced Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, suggesting there are, perhaps, only a few Republican women who diverge from the conservative norm.

Murkowski notably opposed Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and took a stand against the pardoning of those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots. In April, she joined Senate Democrats and three other Republicans in a vote to end Trump’s national emergency declaration related to tariffs with Canada.

Cheney was also recognized for her role on the Select Committee investigating the Capitol riots and has faced backlash for her disapproval of Trump, particularly after losing her re-election bid.

Clinton emphasized the difficulty women face in gaining political ground. “You have to be there first,” she noted, expressing her support for viable female candidates like Kamala Harris. According to reports, Harris experienced strong support among women and college-educated voters, but faced greater opposition from men and less-educated white voters.

Clinton has previously faced backlash from comments she made during a New York fundraiser in 2016, where she described a segment of Trump supporters as part of a “basket of deplorables.” She reflected on her choice of words and expressed regret for labeling half of Trump’s supporters in that manner, admitting to being overly general.

In a similar vein, President Joe Biden faced criticism in late 2024 when he described Trump supporters as “garbage”, a remark that elicited a swift response from Trump, who staged a press conference from inside a garbage truck.