In an interview on the CBS program "Sunday Morning," Clinton declared she would remain active but that she was "done with being a candidate."
"Is your political career over?" CBS anchor Jane Pauley asked.
"Yes. As an active politician, it's over," Clinton said.
"You will never be a candidate for office‐" Pauley started.
"I am done with being a candidate, but I am not done with politics, because I literally believe that our country's future is at stake," Clinton said.
In her narration of the report, Pauley said Clinton still seemed "gobsmacked" over the defeat at the hands of Donald Trump, saying she "dishes out blame and she accepts responsibility."
Clinton hit Trump for saying being president was harder than he thought it would be.
"Well, yeah, because it's not a show. It's real. It's reality for sure," Clinton said.
The network interview, recorded Friday, is the first in a series of media appearances as Clinton promotes her memoir What Happened, which delves into her 2016 election loss.
In released excerpts, Clinton has laid blame for her defeat on herself but also on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), the media's coverage of her private email scandal, former FBI Director James Comey, Russian meddling in the election and other factors.