Hillary Clinton talks about how hard it was to decide whether to stay married after husband’s affair was made public

Hillary Clinton has opened up about her decision to stay with husband Bill after his affair, in a comment that caught daughter Chelsea off-guard.

Hillary Clinton has made a surprisingly frank response when asked what the gutsiest decision was that she had made in her life.

“I think the gutsiest thing I’ve ever done — well, personally — was make the decision to stay in my marriage,” the former First Lady said on Good Morning America.

“Publicly, politically — run for president and keep going. Just get up every day and keep going,” she added.

The admission even shocked daughter Chelsea Clinton who was seated next to her mother for a joint interview promoting their new book: The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience.

“Oh, goodness. I think I’m so overwhelmed by my mother’s answer that I’m a bit out of words. I’m so proud to be her daughter,” Chelsea said.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton watches President Bill Clinton after news of an affair with Monica Lewinsky surfaced. Picture: AP

Mrs Clinton has rarely commented on her husband’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, which led to impeachment proceedings.

In her 2017 book, What Happened, Mrs Clinton shed light on scandal.

“There were times that I was deeply unsure about whether our marriage could or should survive,” she writes without specifically mentioning the affair.

“But on those days I asked myself the question that mattered most to me: Do I still love him? And can I still be in this marriage without becoming unrecognisable to myself-twisted by anger, resentment, or remoteness. The answers were always yes. So I kept going.”

US President Bill Clinton with wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea in 1998. Picture: Supplied

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Hillary and Chelsea Clinton have been doing the promotional trail for their book.

Mrs Clinton also commented on the impeachment inquiry of US President Donald Trump and said the Democrats should tread with caution.

“I think the evidence concerning Ukraine is so dramatic and irrefutable because it came right out of the White House,” she said. “So let the impeachment inquiry proceed.

“I know that they will do a thoughtful, thorough job. Nobody should jump to any conclusions,” she said.

Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office at the White House. Picture: Supplied