Jill Biden was right at her husband's side Saturday as they exited Air Force One to head for a pair of campaign stops at luxurious vacation homes on Long Island. And she got straight to the point when it was her turn to introduce the president at a tony fundraiser.
“Joe isn’t just the right person for the job. He’s the only person for the job,” she declared.
The first lady also told donors, “Anyone can tell you what they want to do, but Joe Biden can tell you what he’s done with his judgment, his experience, and his relationships with leaders across the globe.”
The first lady is trying to rally support for her husband after a dreadful performance in Thursday's presidential debate created fresh worries about President Joe Biden's age and his ability to compete in November's election and to serve another four years.
The community college professor has been by her husband's side since he exited the debate stage as he faces what could be a defining challenge of his presidency — the president says that democracy itself is on the line in his race against former President Donald Trump.
It's a reflection of the first lady's influence, her love of her husband and the pressure confronting an 81-year-old candidate whom many voters worry is too old to serve another term as president. While Trump's wife has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail, Jill Biden has taken a leading role, wearing a dress Friday decorated with the word “Vote.”
Less than 24 hours after her husband's disastrous debate, she stood before a crowd in Greenwich Village and spoke glowingly about her husband without any nod to the swirling controversy over whether he is up to another term.
“Joe will never stop fighting for this country and for communities like this one,” she said at an event at the Stonewall National Monument, a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. “That’s who Joe is. He wakes up every morning thinking about how he can make the lives of Americans better.”
She was more frank, though, later in the day at a LGBTQ fundraiser in the city, saying of her husband’s debate performance, “I know it’s on your minds.”
“As Joe said earlier today, he’s not a young man,” she allowed. “And you know, after last night’s debate, he said, ‘You know, Jill, I don’t know what happened. I didn’t feel that great.’ And I said, ‘Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you’ve been president.’”
The first lady went on to deliver a spirited defense of the president’s abilities, signaling there was no stepping back from his intent — their intent, really — for him to press forward with his campaign.
“What my husband does know how to do is tell the truth,“ she said. “When Joe gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that’s what we’re doing today.”
Jill Biden, 73, has long been her husband’s chief confidant and public defender, but her role looms larger this year and is attracting increasing scrutiny from Trump supporters, some of whom question whether she's the one doing the steering these days.
When the first lady gripped the president's hand as he left the debate stage on Thursday night after his halting performance, Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas reposted the video on X with the question, “Who is the Commander in Chief?”
Jill Biden, early on reluctant to embrace the role of political spouse, is all in.
Earlier in the year, when voters were in denial that Biden truly would seek another term, it was Jill Biden who squashed the idea he might not go through with it.
“How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?” the first lady told The Associated Press in a February interview during a trip to Africa. She added, “He says he’s not done. He’s not finished what he’s started. And that’s what’s important.”
As a native of the Philadelphia area, her tone has grown increasingly feisty as she has told supporters that Trump has gotten “my Philly up.” But the race with the former Republican is tight and she told the fundraising gathering on Friday that, “We have to work harder than we’ve ever worked before.”
She doesn't just talk up her husband's best attributes, she regularly recounts stories of their courtship and life together for supporters. During Friday's events, she told the LGBTQ+ gatherings that Trump is a “threat” to their rights and “we can't let him win,” a sign that she won't shy from the gritty business of politics.
Last month, the first lady delivered a commencement address to community college students in Arizona, where she talked about ignoring the doubters and pushing forward with their goals.
“The next time someone tells you that you ‘can’t,’ you’re going to say, ‘Oh yeah? Watch me,’” she said.
It was an echo of the words her husband has used on multiple occasions when questioned about his ability to do the job for another four years: “Watch me.”
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
25 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
She and her children know what the patriotic thing to do is. Joe will be remembered fondly if he can do the right thing.
Mr Goodman
Why is she talking for him ?
Unfortunately it's undoubtedly clear to everyone that Bidens dementia makes him unfit to be president
Time for Biden to step down
We need better options than Trump tho
Might be a civil war if Trump gets in again
What's happened to America
dagon
Partners can often be enablers and supporters in mediating the effects of age-related decline and dementia.
That can be a precious thing but in Jill's case she is enabling a race of a cliff for the existential goal of keeping authoritarian Trump out of office. Biden does not want to be remembered like Hindenburg.
Laguna
Spot on.
Joe has been one of the most consequential presidents in a generation, cleaning up the messes Trump had left and redirecting domestic policy towards greater productivity. Economically, the US is the envy of the world. Clearly, Biden is not young, but he's devoted his entire life to government, and his decades in the Senate continue to serve him well when it comes to moving legislation. I'll be voting for him (particularly given the choice) and look forward to another four years of what will be the last hurrah of a noble, patriotic, capable man.
Aly Rustom
She's not married to Joe. She's married to power.
wallace
If Biden stands down Vice President Kamala Harrison becomes the candidate.
TaiwanIsNotChina
That's not automatic.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Most likely Biden will not actually resign. That would be stupid and chaotic. The question is whether he opens up the nomination by dropping out of the race.
Raw Beer
Good question. Joe should be saying this, but she's the one who can speak coherently.
Raw Beer
Another good question is: who is running the country now? Because Joe certainly isn't...
Now that's scary!
I think they want to have Newsom, but they worry about the appearance of having him take the spot of what many think should go to Harris, a female woman of color....
Trump is not great, but he's much better than anyone the Dems have lined up.
Suddenly, RFKjr will look great to so many Americans. No wonder CNN played dirty tricks to keep him out of the debate.
Anonymous
SHE delivered the message? That tells me enough. Edith Wilson part 2.
Bob Fosse
Where’s Melania? At least Biden has a wife he can depend on.
bass4funk
She does, but it seems Joe doesn’t. That video of him in France wandering off and on the WH lawn on that Juneteenth celebration will go down in infamy.
bass4funk
Probably at home, she has a young son to take care of.
If that were the case she would never let her husband go through this kind of elderly abuse, I don’t like Biden but o generally felt bad for the guy. I have someone in my family that is currently dealing with dementia and showing the same signs as Biden, her job as a wife is to protect her husband and not exploit him to hold on political power. This is just beyond cruel. I really believe in Karma and think Jill will eventually meet hers.
bass4funk
Biden made things worse, much worse.
Not now it isn’t.
And interestingly, he was one of the more disliked Senators in office, and like you said, we have a long list of historical and video of the things Biden said and did, those records cannot be erased, ever.
At this point Biden would need a miracle to happen in order to win another term.
wallace
bass4funk
Where’s Melania?
Barron is now an adult getting ready to go off to university. Melania is not interested in the election, her husband's court cases, or ever living in the WH again.
Bob Fosse
You haven’t seen the unedited video? Then I understand how you were tricked.
zibala
After president's debate debacle, Jill Biden delivering the message that they're still all in
That's the problem--the Biden family is all in, but Joe isn't.
Peter Neil
ridiculous. politics has gone mad. neither party can field a normal person.
bass4funk
My daughter is the same age and still her mom helps her with a lot of things.
You asked her? Huh, had no idea..
Ok, here we go with more lib quarterbacking, do you happen to know what his favorite breakfast is?
wallace
bass4funkToday 12:07 pm JST
Barron is now an adult getting ready to go off to university.
Barron and your daughter are like chalk and cheese. Barron has a team around him.
Melania is not interested in the election,
When was she last seen at a rally?
her husband's court cases, or ever living in the WH again.
Why didn't she support her husband in court?
bass4funk
My daughter is the same age and still her mom helps her with a lot of things.
So what, they’re both human, young, inexperienced and need their mothers.
You asked her? Huh, had no idea..
I don’t know and don’t care. I don’t sit around in a dark office wondering where Melania is, she’s not running for office, so I really don’t care either way.
Ok, here we go with more lib quarterbacking, do you happen to know what his favorite breakfast is?
How do you know she didn’t? Got proof?
wallace
It is normal, usual when a candidate like Trump is running for the WH to have support from his wife at rallies and political gatherings. Insiders have said Melania does not want to live at the WH again and will remain in Florida if Trump wins.
It would have hit the headlines if Melania had supported her husband in court.
Stop making excuses.
bass4funk
Well, the French openly parade their mistresses around like Mitterrand and we don’t do that, so what YOU might think is normal, might be for YOU personally, it doesn’t apply to everyone
Which ones? Who exactly, what source?
Doubt it.
Stop speculating
wallace
bass4funk
It is normal, usual when a candidate like Trump is running for the WH to have support from his wife at rallies and political gatherings.
America is not France. During the 2016 and 2020 elections, Melania played an active role.
Insiders have said Melania does not want to live at the WH again and will remain in Florida if Trump wins.
That is why God gave you the internet and Google. Stop being lazy.
It would have hit the headlines if Melania had supported her husband in court.
You are wearing those rose-colored glasses again. O boy!
Stop making excuses.
I am not speculating. Where is Melania on the political trail?