Hillary Clinton said Donald Trump’s inauguration speech represented “a cry from the white nationalist gut,” in an interview with CBS promoting the upcoming release of her book, “What Happened.”
“What an opportunity to say, ‘Okay, I’m proud of my supporters, but I’m the president of all Americans.’ That’s not what we heard at all,” Clinton told CBS host Jane Pauley.
The criticisms of the former Democratic presidential nominee have carried extra weight in the aftermath of the Charlottesville, Va., riot in August between white supremacists and counter-protesters, which included elements of the sometimes-violent “antifa” movement.
President Trump faced heavy criticism even from members of his own party for his reaction to the Charlottesville events which claimed the life of one protester, and also played a contributing role in the death of two Virginia State Troopers.
Clinton also said she debated whether she should attend the inauguration at all.
“But I’m a former first lady, and former presidents and first ladies show up,” she said. “It’s part of the demonstration of the continuity of our government. And so there I was, on the platform, you know, feeling like an out-of-body experience. And then his speech, which was a cry from the white nationalist gut.”
Clinton’s first on-air interview about her book comes on the same day that Steve Bannon, former adviser to President Trump, will be featured in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
