Bill Clinton suggests US may elect a female president if she's a 'conservative Republican woman'

Former President Bill Clinton shared his thoughts on the prospect of a female president during a CBS interview on Sunday.

Reflecting on Vice President Kamala Harris' loss to President-elect Donald Trump, Clinton suggested that a conservative Republican woman might face fewer barriers to the presidency.  

When asked whether the U.S. is ready for a female president, Clinton responded, "Maybe. I think in some ways we've moved to the right as a reaction to all the turmoil." He noted that had Hillary Clinton been nominated in 2008, she "would've walked in, just like Obama did."  

Clinton, who was promoting his new book 'Citizen', expressed his belief that "all these cultural battles that we're fighting make it harder in some ways for a woman to run." 

He was then asked if the challenge was more about party affiliation than gender, to which Clinton said, "No. Although I think it would probably be easier for a conservative Republican woman to win."  

He further explained, "That's what Margaret Thatcher did," implying that a woman from the right side of the political spectrum could more easily gain support. 

Clinton remained optimistic about the future, adding, "I still think we'll have a female president pretty soon."

The conversation also touched on Clinton’s book, in which he discusses his infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky. 

Clinton explained that he included a segment about the affair to help her move beyond the public scandal. "I thought I needed to say something, and I wanted to be as helpful as I could to let her turn the page," Clinton shared.  

"I live with it all the time," Clinton wrote in 'Citizen' about the Lewinsky scandal, also complimenting her work on bullying. "I wish her nothing but the best," he added.

While Clinton campaigned in support of Harris during the 2024 election, he also expressed his concerns about Donald Trump potentially returning to the presidency, calling it a "travesty."