Hillary Clinton’s office is seeking an unpaid intern with “a high level of professionalism and discretion,” igniting a wave of mockery and criticism online over the Clinton legacy and the foundation’s job practices.

Hillary Clinton’s office recently posted a listing for an unpaid internship in her Madison Avenue office in New York City, asking applicants to take on duties ranging from research and memo writing to managing daily operations. The job description specifically calls for a candidate with “a high level of professionalism and discretion,” a phrase that quickly drew attention and ridicule across social media.

At the same time, Bill Clinton’s team at the Clinton Foundation advertised a paid “special projects associate” position, offering an annual salary between $50,000 and $55,000 for responsibilities including drafting meeting agendas, editing briefs, and supporting key initiatives. The foundation, based in New York City, is described as having an endowment of at least $300 million, raising questions among online observers about why Hillary Clinton’s office would seek an unpaid intern when such substantial resources are available.

The New York Post reported that the unpaid internship was listed on DayBook, a known job platform for political and nonprofit roles. No information was provided on when the positions were posted, application deadlines, or start dates.

Though neither Hillary nor Bill Clinton commented publicly on the job postings, the choice of wording in the internship description, especially the emphasis on “discretion”, revived memories of the Clinton White House scandal of the 1990s. At that time, Bill Clinton, then the 42nd president, had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a 22-year-old White House intern. His conduct led to impeachment by the U.S. House for perjury and obstruction of justice, though he was later acquitted by the Senate. Bill Clinton famously told a grand jury, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” a phrase that has become shorthand for parsing truth in politics.

Online reaction targets Clinton history and foundation’s practices

The job postings triggered a field day among online commenters, many of whom referenced the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and the foundation’s record. One widely shared comment on X (formerly Twitter) quipped, “Bill lost intern privileges.” Another joked, “Depends on what the definition of internship is.” On Instagram, a commenter wrote, “The last time a Clinton sought college interns it really really didn’t end well.” Others pointed to the paid foundation job and the unpaid internship, questioning, “You can’t offer ‘internships with Bill Clinton’ anymore.” Several asked, “What sort of ‘Special Projects?’” in reference to the associate role on Bill Clinton’s team.

The Clinton Foundation, meanwhile, continues to operate with hundreds of millions in endowment funds and a global footprint. The foundation’s $50,000, $55,000 salary range for the special projects associate contrasts sharply with the unpaid position in Hillary Clinton’s office, fueling further criticism of the foundation’s approach to compensation and opportunity.

No official response from the Clintons or the foundation

Neither Clinton’s office nor the foundation issued a public statement addressing the controversy or explaining the decision to offer the unpaid internship. The silence did little to dampen the online backlash or dispel skepticism over the need for “discretion” in the wake of the Clintons’ history with interns and public scrutiny.

Though decades have passed since the White House scandal, the Clinton name remains tied in the public mind to questions of trust, accountability, and the treatment of young staffers. When even a simple job posting sparks this level of public reaction, it’s a sign that the public expects more transparency, and less evasion, from those who have held the highest offices in the land.

Americans know that “discretion” should never be a substitute for honest leadership, no matter how powerful the name on the door.