Bill Clinton on opposing President Trump’s agenda: “We cannot throw the legacy of this country away”
President Bill Clinton criticized President Trump’s actions for undermining the rule of law and predicted the president would pay a heavy price from those who consider his actions un-American.
“In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything like this: someone saying, ‘What I want is the law of the land. It’s my way or nothing.’ And most Americans don’t agree with that,” Clinton said in an interview on CBS’s “Sunday Morning.” “But I think he paid a heavy price for it, because of the name-calling and the posturing… I think it diminished his popularity.”
He said opposition to Mr. Trump would strengthen if Democrats won the gubernatorial election this year and recaptured the House of Representatives in 2026.
He added: “Only elections will change that. But I think the courts are starting to annoy him. Blocking law firms from representing their clients before federal agencies and in federal buildings because he doesn’t agree with their position is un-American. We’ve never done that. The purpose of a judicial system is for both sides to be heard.”
Hillary Clinton said the courts have so far blocked the president, “including many of the judges he’s appointed. And, as you know, he’s looking for ways to challenge all of these court decisions. But I think he’ll have a hard time doing that. And if he does, I think it will hurt him in America.”
Democratic Opposition
When Clinton was asked if he thought the only thing the Democratic Party agreed on was its hatred of Trump, he replied: “If I thought that were true, I would think so. But I don’t think so. I just think most people—most of those who are criticizing the Democrats right now—don’t realize how difficult it is to make the right decision. I think it’s not as easy as people think.”
“It will come. There will be an election.” And we’ll see.
Clinton said: “President Trump has the right to do what he thinks is right; he’s doing it. The courts are doing their job. There will be another election.” But someone has to stand up and say, ‘Gee, what unites us is more important. We can’t abandon the heritage of this country. We can’t destroy the trust people have in us. We have to preserve it and find a way to work together, not humiliate others just to win.’ We just have to calm down and try to bring people together again. That’s what I believe.”
Elder Statesmen
Last November, Clinton published his book “Citizen: My Life After the White House” and spoke with Sunday Morning about the importance of citizens “standing up for what we believe is right.”
The following month, Clinton, then 78, suffered a health scare that required hospitalization. He said, “It turned out to be nothing serious. I lost my balance and knew I was sick, so I went to the hospital and got checked out. I was told I was severely dehydrated. I received excellent care and left the next day.”
Regarding his current health, he said, “To my knowledge, it’s excellent. But with age, you have to be more vigilant about hydration.”
Asked about a recent book about President Joe Biden, which suggested those around him had noticed signs of cognitive and physical decline, Clinton said he never noticed any cognitive decline and never felt unfit to run for president. He added, “I thought he was a good president. His only concern was, ‘Can anyone do this before 86?'” He continued, “We had several long conversations. I never saw him and left thinking, ‘He can’t do it anymore. He’s always been dedicated to his duties.'”
“I haven’t read the book. I saw President Biden not long ago and saw that he was in great shape. But the book didn’t interest me because I’d never seen him like that.”
When asked why he hadn’t read the book, Clinton replied, “I didn’t want to.” Because he’s no longer president, and I think he’s done a good job. And I think we’re facing challenges that are unprecedented in our history. And some are trying to use that to blame him for Trump’s reelection.