Hillary Clinton Reveals Viral Exchange With Obama About Trump

Hillary Clinton has detailed a private exchange she had with former President Barack Obama after Michelle Obama appeared to deliver a pointed remark about Donald Trump. The moment occurred during the June opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

During her remarks, Michelle Obama highlighted achievements of her husband's presidency, including his Nobel Peace Prize win. The mention was met with applause and laughter, including from Clinton. Trump, who has publicly expressed a desire for the award, has not received it.

Clinton, speaking recently at an event hosted by the Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb, revealed her reaction to the former first lady's statement. "I thought it was so perfect," Clinton recalled.

She then recounted leaning in to speak with Barack Obama after he turned toward her. "Barack turns around and kind of grins at me," Clinton said. "So I leaned forward and said, ‘I really hope that Donald Trump is watching this and I really hope he heard that line and I think he’s got to feel like he is in the Tenth Circle of Hell or something because of this litany of everything you’ve done.’"

According to Clinton, Obama responded, "Yeah, me too. I hope so."

Clinton, a former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, shared this anecdote while discussing the pressures women face in public life. She drew a parallel to a moment during a 2016 debate when Trump loomed behind her on stage. She described the internal debate she had over how to respond, weighing concerns about appearing weak versus making a joke that might not land.

"I had to figure out what were people going to see if they looked at me and that’s the kind of thing that women have to have in the back of our heads, how do I respond, what’s appropriate, do I show emotion or not," she stated, adding a critique of those who question women's emotional capacity for leadership while pointing to the behavior of certain male politicians.