We already know Hillary Clinton never wanted to leave her house again after losing the election to Donald Trump, and now it seems the sentiment was much the same for some of those in President Obama’s inner circle.
Obama’s top adviser Valerie Jarrett told the audience at a “Women Rule” event that Hillary Clinton’s loss was “soul crushing.”
“Obviously we were surprised by the outcome of the election. It kind of was like — I’m not sure what the right analogy would be — but like a punch in the stomach, let’s say. Soul-crushing might be another description,” Jarrett said. “But that’s the democracy that we have. The people get to decide and the elections matter and we have to get about the business of doing our job.”
But the mood at the White House has changed dramatically since Nov. 9, she said.
“He sets the tone and he’s upbeat. He’s excited about what we’ve accomplished,” she continued, speaking of the president. “And so I think the mood is a lot better today than it was the day after the election, that’s for sure.”
President-elect Trump, for his part, has been very complimentary toward President Obama during the transition, saying the two have “tremendous chemistry” and that he “love[s] getting his ideas.”
Jarrett said she wasn’t surprised by this change of heart.
“I understand why he likes him. I guess I wish he’d gotten to know him sooner and had spent some time with him. And I also think it reflects on President Obama’s attitude, which is he’s being very open and available and accessible,” she said. “Look, we’ve learned a lot in eight years and campaigns are different than governing and to the degree that President Obama can convey some of what he’s learned and give the president-elect a little bit more detail into why we’ve done the things that we’ve done, than inures to the benefit of the country.”
“So I’m glad that the president-elect likes President Obama. I think that’s a good sign.”