Hillary Clinton Highlights Threats to Democracy
On Wednesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concerns that democracy is currently “under siege” in the United States.
During her speech at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Clinton acknowledged the positive developments from the event, although she quickly shifted to address her darker perspective on the global political situation. She described the gatherings and discussions as “incredibly encouraging” but noted a significant global crisis.
“I’m definitely inspired by being back at CGI and all the feedback I’m receiving about the working groups, panels, and leadership events,” Clinton stated. “However, this isn’t just about America. For the first time in two decades, the number of dictators surpasses democracies worldwide. Currently, nearly three-quarters of the global population lives under some form of dictatorship.”
Clinton remarked that the term “democratic backslide” no longer adequately represents the urgency of the current issues.
“The polite term around this is a democratic backslide, but that’s simply not enough. Let’s call it what it is: a power grab. It’s not a slow deterioration either; the rule of law isn’t just slipping away. Rights aren’t merely overlooked; they’re actively taken away,” she continued. “And let’s be honest: there are no knights in shining armor who will come rescue democracy. It’s our collective responsibility — citizens, civil society, philanthropists, faith communities, businesses — all of us need to take charge of protecting our nation and our liberties.”
In a reflection on past comments, Clinton had previously referred to President Donald Trump as an “illegitimate president,” suggesting that the 2016 election was “stolen.” Critics have argued that such statements have contributed to public distrust in the electoral system.
Additionally, Clinton’s campaign had a role in funding Christopher Steele, who became a key figure in the Russian investigation. John Durham’s report in 2023 criticized the FBI for excessively relying on unverified opposition research connected to Clinton’s campaign, raising concerns about the potential politicization of federal law enforcement.
