President Obama has suggested in an interview that sexism is playing a role in the controversy over Hillary Clinton’s emails.

In an interview on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” that aired late Monday, the president said bias against women has “contributed to this notion that somehow she is hiding something.”

Ms. Bee had asked the president what public perception Mrs. Clinton will face as president that would be the equivalent of the birther movement, which questioned Mr. Obama’s citizenship and was cited by many as a form of racism.

“I think the equivalent will be: She’s tired, she’s moody, she’s being emotional, there’s something about her,” Mr. Obama said. “When men are ambitious, it’s just taken for granted. ‘Well, of course they should be ambitious.’ When women are ambitious, ‘Why?’ That theme, I think, will continue throughout her presidency, and it’s contributed to this notion that somehow she is hiding something.”

The president is campaigning aggressively for Mrs. Clinton this week, with a rally Tuesday in Ohio and events later in the battleground states of North Carolina and Florida.

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