Footage showing Hillary Clinton apparently mocking new President Donald Trump has gone viral after she burst into laughter during his inauguration speech.
Trump had just outlined his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico in favor of “the Gulf of America,” when Clinton collapsed into a fit of giggles, her shoulders shaking visibly as she laughed openly in the audience. One clip of the incident shared on social media site X (formerly Twitter) has been viewed more than 9 million times and shared by more than 15,000 other users.
The Democratic former secretary of state, who unsuccessfully ran against Republican Trump during the presidential election of 2016, was seated behind him as he launched his second term in office on Monday, so her snickers were caught by the cameras of live TV feeds and broadcast to the nation.
Newsweek has reached out by email to representatives of both Trump and Clinton for comment.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives for the inauguration of Donald Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Lamarque/Getty Images
Why It Matters
The incident comes after a fractious presidential campaign, with the two sides trading increasingly bitter blows. Meanwhile, the country is embroiled in what has been described as a series of “culture wars,” with various liberal policies decried as “woke” nonsense by those whose politics are more right-wing.
The discourse has created a deeply divided nation, according to a Gallup poll published in September, which showed that a record 80 percent of American adults believe the nation is “greatly divided,” against just 18 percent who feel it is “united and in agreement.” And another poll last month suggested that 76 percent of Americans believe that the country will be riven with “political conflict” in 2025.
It is into this febrile atmosphere that Trump has assumed office, and Clinton’s laughter during his speech has been seized upon by those on both sides.
What To Know
Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were seated amongst other dignitaries at Trump’s inauguration, directly behind Trump’s presidential opponent Kamala Harris.
They were listening as Trump told the gathering: “America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth inspiring the awe, admiration of the entire world. A short time from now, we will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and we will be restoring the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley [Denali], where it should be and where it belongs.”
The camera happened to be panning across the audience as Trump spoke. As he mentioned his plan for the “Gulf of America,” Hillary Clinton suddenly erupted into amused chuckles. She looked down as her shoulders shook with laughter, prompting Bill Clinton to glance across at her and say something.
Newsweek shared the clip on X, where it was viewed by thousands, and it can be seen below:
Hillary Clinton was seen laughing at President Donald Trump’s promise to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” at Monday’s inauguration. pic.twitter.com/bovzLnLJD4
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 20, 2025
There is no love lost between Trump and Clinton, who have their own antagonistic history.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump accused Clinton of having a legacy of “death, destruction, terrorism and weakness.” He has also repeatedly taunted her by encouraging his supporters to chant “lock her up” after Clinton was found to have used a personal email server for official communications that included classified information.
For her part, Clinton accused Trump of being a liar and a racist, and said he was “not fit to be president” after a tape emerged of him describing kissing and groping women without their consent.
And Clinton has continued to criticize Trump in recent years, amid his string of legal battles and convictions. She remarked in October 2024 that Trump was now “more unhinged, more unstable” than ever.
But Clinton is not alone in mocking Trump’s plan for the Gulf.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has also previously mocked Trump’s plan, by sarcastically suggesting that North America should be renamed “América Mexicana” as it was once previously known.
What People Are Saying
Predictably, the incident has divided social media.
Some online users praised Clinton for laughing openly at Trump:
An X account set up in support of the Democratic Party, called Democratic Wins Media, shared a clip from CNN with the words: “Hillary Clinton just had the best reaction to Trump’s statement changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. We will not fall for Trump’s distractions.”
An X user, a TV viewer named Scott Lacy, whose profile gave no indication of political leanings either way, said: “I’m trying to figure out why everyone is not laughing. This is a third grade policy change.”
Another X user named James Knowles, whose other posts are critical of Trump, said: “Hillary Clinton couldn’t contain laughing at absolute stupidity.”
But others thought Clinton was disrespectful to the new president.
An X account with the name “Florida Conservative” wrote: “Hillary, once again, is sitting behind Trump as he’s welcomed as President of the United States. Not a great spot to feel smug.”
Another account, with the handle “JV” who identifies as an American patriot, added: “Typical condescending Democrats smirk & laugh.”
And an X user named “LD,” who has previously re-shared a conspiracy theory post suggesting the January 6 Capitol riots were “staged,” said of Clinton: “Classy as always. Not the temperament of a leader (or a professional).”
What Happens Next
Trump has signed a series of executive orders after assuming office, including a string of policies targeting immigration at the Mexican border.
He has not yet changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico, although he has promised to do so during his time in office.
