Days before her latest book, the election-themed memoir "What Happened," is set to hit the shelves, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down for an interview with CBS host Jane Pauley. Most of the "Sunday Morning" segment touched on themes similar to those contained in Clinton's new book, including an introspective look back at the 2016 presidential election she lost to real estate developer and former reality television host Donald Trump.
While the Democratic nominee has expressed dissatisfaction with her own actions during the arduous campaign, she told Pauley that she believes Trump was able to win in part because of his willingness to tap into racial discord among those who ultimately voted for him.
"He was quite successful in referencing a nostalgia that would give hope, comfort, settle grievances for millions of people who were upset about gains that were made by others," Clinton said.
When Pauley followed up to clarify which group she meant, Clinton added: "Millions of white people, yeah," Clinton said. "Millions of white people."
She went on to criticize Trump's rhetoric, including the inaugural address he delivered upon taking office in January.
"I was there on the platform, you know, feeling like an out-of-body experience," Clinton recalled. "And then his speech, which was a cry from the white-nationalist gut."
Sunday's interview was not the first time Clinton slammed her former opponent for appealing to racists and other extremists within his base of supporters. Shortly before the November election, she said Trump had been "taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party."
Other thoughts about the election
In addition to criticizing Trump's perceived pandering to extremists in the GOP, Clinton also portrayed the president as out of his element when it comes to governing the nation.
She told Pauley that the campaign season amounted to "a reality show that leads to the election of a president," lamenting that there is now someone without a firm grasp of the position sitting in the Oval Office.
"He says, 'Boy, it's so much harder than I thought it would be. This is really tough. I had no idea,'" Clinton said. "Well yeah, because it's not a show. It's real. It's reality, for sure."
As for regrets about her surprising loss, Clinton said she still struggles with them even though she is "good" with the outcome.
"That doesn't mean I am complacent or resolved about what happened," she said. "It still is very painful. It hurts a lot."
Clinton's political future
When the interview turned to the former first lady's future in politics, she made it clear that another White House bid is not in the cards for her.
"I am done with being a candidate," she asserted. "But I am not done with politics, because I literally believe that our country's future is at stake."