Former Secretary of State and two‑time presidential candidate Hillary Clinton turned 78 this week and marked the occasion with a childhood photo and a call to action for others. “I’m 78 today, and thinking of all the people who helped this young girl grow and thrive along the way,” she wrote on social media. “Today I’d love to hear about how you’re showing up, in ways large or small, for the next generation.”
Instead of warm birthday wishes, Clinton’s post was met with harsh criticism online. One commenter compared her to “the mean little girl whose father owned the general store on The Little House on the Prairie.” Another labeled her “the definition of a battle axe,” while a third simply called her “the Devil in disguise.”
Twitter users also dug up an old tweet from 2016 where Clinton proclaimed, “Happy Birthday to this future president,” accompanied by a young‑girl photo of herself. That post became a focal point for critics who reminded her of her defeat to President Donald Trump less than three weeks later. In 2019, Trump’s team even resurfaced that tweet to poke fun at her loss.
While birthday messages usually generate friendly nostalgic posts, Clinton’s effort backfired spectacularly. Instead of inspiring heartfelt reflections on mentorship or public service, the message spurred a wave of sarcastic and vitriolic replies. Some observers said the post exposed a disconnect between Clinton’s message of community service and the strong feelings her public image now evokes.
At a time when political figures often use birthdays to promote legacy and goodwill, Clinton’s post served as a stark reminder that past actions, long memories, and polarized perceptions continue to shape public reaction.
