Hillary Clinton says Trump tried to 'dominate' Theresa May, how he acted differently towards Merkel and why she won't run for president again

Hillary Clinton spoke about the infamous photograph
Hillary Clinton spoke about the infamous photograph Credit: Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton has spoken out about the sexism and pressures that female world leaders such as Theresa May and Angela Merkel face.

The former presidential candidate also confirmed she will not run again, and refused to name her preferred first female president.

She was speaking to Jane Garvey for BBC's Woman's Hour, when she compared the different ways Donald Trump allegedly tries to dominate women.

Comparing Angela Merkel and Theresa May, she said: "[When he grabbed Theresa May's hand it] was really telling. He wants to dominate everyone. He does have...a visceral intuition about what to do to make people feel intimidated.

PA Wire
Hillary Clinton in her surgical boot after missing Woman's Hour on Monday due to a fall Credit: PA Wire

"With Angela Merkel he literally would not talk to her or look at her, sitting in the Oval Office, so he's trying to diminish and demean a woman who has really demonstrated great leadership.

"With Theresa May, he takes a different tack, which is to grab her hand and pull her in so that she's identified with him whether she agrees with him or not.

"You saw in full display two of the tactics he uses to try to sort out, categorise and stereotype and dominate women".

On Theresa May, she said that men in the public eye get away with misleading campaigns and strange sartorial choices, but that with the Prime Minister "everything from her hair to her kitten heels is ripe for criticism and derision."

The politician also claimed the part of the reason more white women voted for Donald Trump than they did for her is because women judge female leaders more harshly.

She said: "When you're a woman in the public eye, it's often the case that women are going to be more judgemental about how you perform.

"[women are harsher on women] in the electoral system...because women don't want you to make a mistake as it might reflect on them."

Ms Clinton rounded off the interview by saying she became sane again after the tough campaign by surrounding herself with positive people, going on long walks, doing yoga and drinking chardonnay.

 

License this content