Jill Biden Memoir Reveals Doubts About Biden’s Health After 2024 Debate
4 verified4 unconfirmed
In her new memoir “View from the East Wing,” former first lady Jill Biden describes fearing that President Joe Biden suffered a stroke or was drugged during his disastrous June 2024 debate with President Trump. She insists she had never seen him in that state before or since and says she still does not know what caused his poor performance. Biden confirms in the memoir that her husband had originally planned to serve only one term but changed his mind after advisers and family urged him to run. The debate led to Biden dropping out of the race, with Vice President Kamala Harris taking over the Democratic nomination and later losing to President Trump. The memoir aims to address accusations that Jill Biden covered up her husband’s cognitive decline. Biden also writes about her role as first lady and her regrets over the personal toll the campaign took on her family.
What’s verified
Jill Biden feared President Biden had a stroke during the June 2024 debate.
Jill Biden says she still does not know what caused Biden’s poor debate performance.
Biden had originally planned to serve only one term but later decided to run for reelection.
The debate led to Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Not yet confirmed
That doctors checked President Biden immediately after the debate is reported by only one source.
That Jill Biden suggested President Biden take a cognitive test but was overruled by advisers is reported by only one source.
That Jill Biden left notes on their bathroom mirror about policy issues is reported by only one source.
The exact exchange between the Bidens after the debate (“I really fked up” / “Yes, you did”) is reported by only one source.
Misconceptions
Both sources address the misconception that Biden’s poor debate performance was a one-off or that Jill Biden was covering up cognitive decline. She insists the performance was not typical and that she had never seen him in that state before or since.
Key figures
Jill Biden, former first lady and author of “View from the East Wing”
Joe Biden, former president
Donald Trump, president
Kamala Harris, former vice president
Sources: NPR, theatlantic.com
