Hillary Clinton has offered a pointed assessment of Donald Trump nearly 10 years after losing the 2016 presidential election to him. This time, she used two striking words to describe how she believes her former rival has changed. Clinton’s remarks came as Americans headed into the 2026 midterm elections, with the former secretary of state arguing that Trump now faces fewer restraints than he did during their presidential race.
Hillary Clinton talks about how Donald Trump has changed since 2016
Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN, Clinton described Trump as “unfettered” and “unhinged,” according to HuffPost.
Clinton contrasted that assessment with the man she faced in 2016. She said Trump then had “a theory of the case” and understood how he wanted to present himself to voters.
Clinton also argued that people around Trump once had some ability to challenge him or tell him no. In her view, that restraint has since disappeared.
She also criticized Trump’s recent appearance near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Clinton took issue with his focus on construction projects in Washington and said he had “lost the plot” of serving the public.
Her comments followed another warning one day earlier. During an appearance on The View, Clinton said Trump could become more confrontational if Democrats gain control of Congress.
Clinton has repeatedly criticized Trump during his second term. In April, she drew attention to what she described as his “unhinged” social media posts.
She has also increased her political commentary ahead of the midterms. In October, Clinton launched the High Stakes podcast project with Kara Swisher, with the election forming a major part of their discussions.
Trump, meanwhile, has spent the final stretch of the campaign appearing at events for Republican candidates and urging his supporters to turn out, even though he is not on the ballot.
Clinton’s latest comments offer her assessment of how Trump has changed since their 2016 presidential race. Her characterization of him as “unfettered” and “unhinged” reflects her own view of the president and his current political approach.
