In her latest book, Hillary Clinton revisits her infamous "deplorables" comment from the 2016 presidential campaign, adding a fresh perspective on her controversial description of some Donald Trump supporters.

Mrs. Clinton's new book reflects on her 2016 description of certain Trump supporters as "deplorables," asserting that events like the Charlottesville rally and the Capitol unrest of Jan. 6, 2021, have proven her remarks to be prescient, though she regrets the term "irredeemable," as the Daily Mail reports, perhaps in light of recent attempts on her former opponent's life.

In 2016, during the heat of the presidential race, Clinton controversially labeled half of Trump’s supporters as a "basketful of deplorables."

She criticized these individuals for being drawn to what she termed as Trump's appeals to "racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and Islamophobia."

Clinton Admits "Deplorables" Was Problematic Term

Reflecting on the statement, Clinton acknowledges that calling Trump supporters "deplorables" was not only an "unfortunate choice of words" but also "bad politics" that impacted her campaign negatively.

Despite this, she stands by the essence of her statement, asserting that it pointed to an underlying truth about extremist elements within Trump's voter base.

"It was an unfortunate choice of words and bad politics, but it also got at an important truth," Clinton explains in her book. This admission comes amidst a broader analysis of her campaign strategies and their outcomes.

Linking Past Comments to Present Events

Clinton argues that the subsequent occurrences like the Charlottesville rally and the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6 serve as evidence that her 2016 comments were on target.

"The masks have come off, and if anything, 'deplorable' is too kind a word for the hate and violent extremism we've seen," she writes.

These reflections are part of a broader attempt by Clinton to contextualize her campaign's rhetoric and the intense reactions it sparked both in supporters and detractors.

She expressed regret over the term particularly for branding those supporters as "irredeemable," which she now views as too harsh.

Clinton’s Perspective on Trump’s Electoral Base

Despite her critical view of some Trump supporters, Clinton's book also shows empathy towards the other half of Trump's voter base, whom she believes were driven by economic despair and government neglect. "I also talked about the other half of Trump supporters, people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they’re just desperate for change," she recalls.

This duality in Clinton's reflection captures her complex view of the American electorate during the 2016 election, a theme she explores throughout her book.

Media Reflections on "Deplorables" Comment

In 2022, following a racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, media interest in Clinton's "deplorables" comment was renewed. A newspaper editor, reflecting on the incident, remarked on the prescience of Clinton’s words, linking them to ongoing racial tensions and extremist ideologies in the U.S.

"Several editors, he said, brought up my 'deplorables' comment and 'how prescient' I had been," Clinton notes, quoting the editor. This interaction highlights how her comments have continued to resonate and spark debate years after they were made.

Lasting Impact of a Campaign Comment

The term "deplorables" itself became a badge of honor among many Trump supporters, who embraced the label with merchandise like T-shirts and hats, turning a moment of criticism into a cultural symbol within the Trump campaign.

Despite the electoral outcome where Clinton won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College, her "deplorables" comment remains a defining moment of the 2016 election, continuing to influence political discourse and public understanding of the divisive elements within American politics.

Clinton's latest reflections offer a window into her thoughts on the matter, providing a nuanced view that balances regret with a firm stance on the issues she believes it brought to light.