Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reignited political controversy with recent remarks branding most Republican women as enablers of male dominance within politics.

The comments, made during a May 1 conversation in New York and shared publicly on May 15, quickly drew comparisons to Mrs. Clinton's 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark that became a flashpoint in that year’s presidential campaign, as the Daily Caller reports.

During an interview at the 92nd Street Y with journalist Margaret Hoover, Clinton was asked what advice she would offer the first female president of the United States. Clinton used the opportunity to harshly criticize Republican women, describing nearly all of them as complicit in upholding a male-dominated political system.

“Don’t be a handmaiden to the patriarchy,” she said. “Which kind of eliminates every woman on the other side of the aisle, except for very few.” Clinton went on to acknowledge Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as one of the rare exceptions.

When Hoover brought up former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Clinton agreed, replying, “Yeah, there’s a few.” Cheney, known for her outspoken opposition to Donald Trump, notably served on the House Select Committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol unrest.

Clinton praises handful of Republicans

Murkowski has a record of opposing key Trump policies. She rejected the potential nomination of Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary and voted with Democrats and three other Republicans in a bid to end Trump’s tariff-related national emergency declaration involving Canada.

Murkowski also criticized Trump’s controversial pardons of individuals involved in the Capitol breach of Jan. 6, 2021. Her centrist positions and willingness to break ranks with her party have earned her a reputation for independence in the Senate.

Cheney famously emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics in Congress. Her prominent role on the Jan. 6 House select committee placed her at odds with many in her party and contributed to her loss in the 2022 Wyoming Republican primary by a margin of more than 37 percentage points to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman.

Systemic bias claimed

Clinton’s remarks came as part of a broader discussion about the challenges facing women in politics. She stated that reaching the presidency is harder than it should be, in part due to systemic barriers and entrenched biases.

“If a woman runs who I think would be a good president -- as I thought Kamala Harris would be, and as I knew I would be -- I will support that woman,” Clinton said, expressing her continued advocacy for women in leadership, though with clear stipulations.

Cheney ultimately crossed party lines to endorse Harris in the 2024 presidential election, a move widely seen as symbolic of her ongoing departure from Trump-aligned Republican politics. The endorsement came in September, as presidential campaigns ramped up across the country, though her support did not matter in the end.

Historical parallels resurface

Clinton’s labeling of Republican women this month echoes her September 2016 remarks at a New York fundraiser, when she controversially claimed that half of Trump’s supporters belonged in a “basket of deplorables.”

She characterized some Trump backers as racist, sexist, xenophobic, and homophobic, stating that some were “irredeemable.” The remark sparked intense criticism and became a defining moment of the 2016 campaign, which ultimately ended in Trump's victory that November.

After facing bipartisan backlash, Clinton clarified her 2016 statement the next day, admitting that it was a mistake to generalize and regretting her use of “half” to describe Trump supporters in such derogatory terms.

Trump's responses electrify base

Clinton’s latest critique occurs against a backdrop of increasingly charged rhetoric from both major political parties. In October 2024, President Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage,” generating strong condemnation from Republicans and even some Democrats.

Trump responded theatrically by holding a press conference from inside a literal garbage truck in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Wearing a reflective safety vest, he appeared to mock Biden’s words while portraying himself as a champion of blue-collar Americans.

Recent polling data points to sharp political divides along educational and gender lines. In November, according to NBC correspondent Steve Kornacki, Harris enjoyed strong approval among women and college-educated white voters, while Trump remained popular among men and white voters without a college education.

Debate over terms of discourse persists

Clinton’s remarks about Republican women have once again placed her at the center of a debate over the impact of political language. While her criticisms were aimed at perceived institutional sexism, the sweeping nature of her statements has drawn scrutiny.

The emphasis on exceptions like Murkowski and Cheney suggests admiration for Republican figures who break with party norms, but critics argue that denunciations of large swaths of voters or lawmakers risk reinforcing partisan divisions.

As the 2024 election's aftermath continues to shape political dialogue, veteran figures like Clinton and Cheney remain focal points in conversations about gender, partisanship, and leadership in America.