Bill and Hillary Clinton Share a Snarky Reaction to Trump’s Inauguration Speech
Hillary Clinton visibly laughed when Trump vowed to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
Saul Loeb/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Bill and Hillary Clinton were less than impressed by Donald Trump’s inaugural speech, a fact which they made clear with subtle snark.
The address that followed Trump’s swearing-in on Monday was tinged with vindication. The new president slammed the previous administration, declared that God saved him from an assassin’s bullet, and vowed to usher in a new “golden age” in America.
The Clintons have long been outspoken opponents of Trump.
The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Asked what his reaction to the speech was, former President Clinton told CNN, “I think you can figure it out for yourself.”
Meanwhile, his wife—the former first lady, secretary of state, and Democratic nominee for president—smiled at the question but said nothing.
The Clintons, like all the living presidential couples (excluding Michelle Obama), were in the audience at the Capitol Rotunda when Trump was sworn in.
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During the speech itself, Hillary Clinton was observed visibly laughing when Trump reiterated his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico as “the Gulf of America” with a day-one executive order.
Hilary Clinton laughing at Trump changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' is all of us today#Inauguration2025 pic.twitter.com/43Abe0tsOc
— Caolán Mc Aree (@Caolanmcaree) January 20, 2025
The Democratic power couple have been vocal critics of Trump since his emergence on the political scene. Both of the pair endorsed Trump’s rival in the 2024 race, Kamala Harris.
As the race came to a close, Hillary Clinton told CNN that Trump was “unhinged, more unstable” than when she lost the presidency to him in 2016.
Shortly before Trump won the election, Bill Clinton remarked, “I don’t know if we can survive or not—I think it would be a travesty if he became president again.”
Unsurprisingly, the Clintons were booed by Trump supporters as they arrived at the Capitol for the ceremony on Monday.
After Trump concluded his speech, the couple told CNN that they would not stay for lunch.
“We have to go,” Bill Clinton said.
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