Former First Lady Jill Biden revealed in an upcoming interview with CBS News that she feared her husband, President Joe Biden, was having a stroke during his faltering debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024. According to multiple reports, Jill Biden described being 'frightened' as she watched the debate, stating she had never seen her husband like that before or since.
Key Takeaways
Former First Lady Jill Biden revealed she feared her husband was having a stroke during his faltering debate performance in June 2024. This admission comes as she prepares to release her memoir, View from the East Wing.
- Jill Biden said she thought Joe Biden was having a stroke during their 2024 presidential debate
- The former first lady admitted being 'frightened' by his performance, which sparked widespread alarm among Democrats
- Biden ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed Kamala Harris with just 107 days until the general election
- Jill Biden had previously praised her husband's debate performance at a post-debate rally
The former first lady's admission comes ahead of the publication of her memoir, View from the East Wing, where she discusses her husband's re-election campaign and his decision to withdraw. During the debate, then-President Biden struggled with a raspy voice, long pauses, and incoherent responses, prompting widespread concern among Democrats and calls for him to end his bid for a second term.
Jill Biden had initially praised her husband's debate performance at a post-debate rally in Atlanta, saying he answered every question and knew all the facts. However, she later admitted that she thought he was having a stroke as she watched the debate unfold. The former president ultimately dropped out of the race about a month after the debate, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris with just 107 days until the general election.
In the weeks following the debate, Jill Biden remained an advocate for her husband's campaign, emphasizing that his poor performance did not reflect his political tenure. She told supporters in Manhattan the day after the debate that they would not let 90 minutes define the four years he had been president. The former first lady also encouraged Joe Biden to stay in the race behind closed doors, emphasizing that he had faced rough patches before and would come out on top.
The interview with CBS News Sunday Morning's Rita Braver is set to air this Sunday. In it, Jill Biden discusses her husband's 2024 campaign in more detail, as well as other topics related to her time in the White House.
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