Jill Biden Reflects on Joe Biden's Decision to Withdraw from 2024 Race
Jill Biden recounted the significant pressure Joe Biden faced following his challenging 2024 debate performance, revealing that he told her,
"Jilly, I had no choice,"when deciding to exit the presidential race.
The former first lady shared these insights during a book event on Tuesday marking the release of her memoir, View from the East Wing. The event took place at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and was moderated by comedian and The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg. Joe Biden attended the event and was met with two standing ovations from the audience.
Reaction to Biden’s Debate Performance and Party Response
Biden’s underwhelming debate against his opponent caused concern among Democrats, leading to calls for his withdrawal from the race. When asked if she and her husband were surprised by the party’s reaction, Jill Biden stated,
"Joe and I were devastated.
To have people who we really considered close friends come out publicly and say really terrible things about Joe … if you want to come to us and say that to us personally, that’s one thing. But to go on TV shows or out in the press or send me op-eds or whatever – it was really hurtful."
Jill Biden indicated that the public criticism from within their own party was a key factor in Joe Biden’s decision to leave the race.
Support and Decision-Making Process
Goldberg inquired about reports suggesting Jill Biden encouraged her husband to remain in the race despite opposition from some in his inner circle. Jill Biden responded,
"I would support Joe whether he wanted to stay in or he wanted to get out. But the thing to me was, he had to make this decision by himself … because it was a decision he had to live with for the rest of his life."
Following the June 2024 debate, Jill Biden publicly praised her husband’s performance, stating,
"Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts."
However, in her memoir and during the press tour, she revealed that privately she was alarmed by the debate. She said,
"That moment happened, and honest to God, it scared the hell out of me. I thought: ‘What in God’s name is happening?’"
While she did not specify the exact moment, Joe Biden notably misspoke during the debate when attempting to criticize Trump’s policies on tax cuts and the national debt, saying,
"We finally beat Medicare."His team later clarified he intended to say his administration had
"beat big pharma,"but the error intensified concerns about his mental and physical condition at age 81.
Jill Biden described this as,
"one of those moments to me that was just inexplicable."
Reflection on Public Reaction and Health Challenges
When asked if she remained angry about the treatment Joe Biden received after the debate, Jill Biden replied,
"No, I’m not angry. What’s the purpose of anger now?"
She added,
"I think Joe’s cancer diagnosis really puts life into perspective."In May 2025, Biden’s office announced he had been diagnosed with cancer that had metastasized to his bones.
Family Scrutiny and Hunter Biden’s Struggles
The discussion also addressed the scrutiny faced by the Biden family, particularly regarding their son Hunter Biden. Jill Biden candidly stated,
"It’s hard for me to say this, but Hunter was a drug addict. It was a really hard time for our family to go through."
She continued,
"So many families in America deal with addiction. And I’m sorry that I didn’t talk about it a little bit more."Hunter Biden later marked seven years of sobriety, expressing gratitude:
"Thank you to everyone who walked this road with me."
Beyond substance abuse, Hunter Biden has faced legal challenges. In June 2024, he was charged with three felonies related to his 2018 purchase of a handgun, having falsely stated on the purchase form that he was not a user of illicit drugs. He also pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in 2024 through an "open" plea, leaving sentencing to the judge’s discretion.
Although President Biden initially stated he would not use executive authority to pardon his son, he issued a
"full and unconditional"pardon for Hunter’s federal gun and tax convictions shortly before leaving office. Jill Biden defended this decision in her memoir, saying,
"The current president kept saying that he wanted retribution, and he kept pounding it and pounding it. So we couldn’t let that happen."
