Hillary Clinton Blasts 2016 Election Loss ‘Abomination’ to Trump in Netflix Documentary

Hillary Clinton is still very unhappy with the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Despite winning the popular vote by nearly three million votes, the former secretary of state and first lady lost the electoral vote — and thus, the presidency — largely thanks to the ex-reality star and real estate scion carrying three crucial, typically blue Rust Belt states (Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin) by a total of 80,000 votes. And now, Clinton is voicing her displeasure with America’s Electoral College system in “The American Experiment,” a new Netflix docuseries debuting June 24.

“Well, I personally think the Electoral College is an abomination,” says Hillary Clinton, adding, “For obvious reasons.”

Directed by Brian Knappenberger (“The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez”) and executive produced by Tom Hanks, “The American Experiment” is a five-part docuseries examining the history and structure of America through its founding, and includes interviews with dozens of politicians and historians, including Clinton, Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi. The project is being released to coincide with the 250^th anniversary of America’s founding.

“I knew I would be asking former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton about one of the most painful moments of her life,” Knappenberger tells Variety. “She has rarely spoken candidly about that election night and we’re really happy she talked about it for the series. She has a unique perspective as one of only five people in American history to lose the presidency after winning the popular vote. The 2016 election also stands out because Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the popular vote by such a significant margin.”

Indeed, according to Pew Research polling, 63% of Americans would prefer to see the presidential election decided by the popular vote, not the Electoral College — a group of presidential electors who vote in the president and vice president. Each state’s number of electors equals the size of its congressional delegation, or the number of senators (2) plus the number of Representatives for the state. Therefore, those in less-populous states have a disproportionate say in the presidential election.

“The founders themselves were not in love with the Electoral College. It was defective from the beginning,” offers Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California) in the docuseries. “We have a problem that a minority of the population, because of the structure of the Electoral College — in some cases, over the objections of the majority — is ruling the majority.”

“The American Experiment” now serves as a counterpoint of sorts to President Trump’s Freedom 250 celebrations honoring himself, though Knappenberger says that certainly wasn’t intended. More than anything, the docuseries serves as a historical lesson about the cracks in America’s founding and how robust and fragile American democracy really is.

“Some of Hamilton’s writing feels remarkably prescient. In the series, we discuss his warning that a despot-like figure might one day arise in America who could ‘throw things into confusion that he may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind,’” explains Knappenberger. “The founders did not fully anticipate it, but by the time George Washington left office, he crafted his eloquent Farewell Address, warning that partisan divisions could tear the new nation apart. This was one of his greatest fears. Washington believed the strength of the United States came from union. Today, we find ourselves more divided than at any point in our history since the Civil War.”