Jill Biden thought Joe Biden was having stroke during 2024 debate
The Story
Former First Lady Jill Biden said in a television interview that she thought President Joe Biden was having a stroke during his faltering 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump. Biden faced intense pressure from fellow Democrats after the performance, ultimately dropping out of the race and endorsing then-Vice-President Kamala Harris. The interview with CBS News Sunday Morning is scheduled to air on May 31, 2026.
Key Facts
- Jill Biden told CBS News she thought her husband was having a stroke during the June 2024 debate.
- “I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since,” she said.
- “As I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh, my God, he’s having a stroke.’ And it scared me to death,” she added.
- Biden dropped out of the race after the debate and endorsed Kamala Harris.
- Jill Biden was among those who ultimately encouraged him to drop out.
- During the debate Biden had a raspy voice, which his team attributed to illness, and a moment where he seemed to lose his train of thought.
- At a post-debate rally, Jill Biden praised his performance, saying, “Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts.”
- Kamala Harris, who rarely criticized Biden publicly, called the debate a “slow start.”
- After losing the 2024 election, Harris wrote in her memoir that Biden’s decision to seek a second term was “recklessness.”
- Harris wrote, “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Jill Biden – former U.S. First Lady
- Joe Biden – former U.S. President
- Rita Braver – CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent
- Kamala Harris – then-Vice-President and 2024 Democratic nominee
- Donald Trump – then-Republican candidate
