Jill Biden’s tenure as first lady has taken another bruising hit, with her own words providing ammunition to critics on both sides of the political aisle. In a wide-ranging interview with The Washington Post, Biden admitted, “Let’s just say I was disappointed with how it unfolded,” referring to her and President Joe Biden’s time in the White House. While her comment may have been intended as a reflection on the political battles and personal challenges faced during their administration, it has sparked renewed criticism about her role in shaping her husband’s presidency.
Jill Biden’s remarks were widely interpreted as a veiled jab at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats who pressured Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race due to his declining cognitive and physical condition. For Jill, this was not just a political maneuver; it was a personal betrayal. “We were friends for 50 years,” she lamented, underscoring her dismay that Pelosi prioritized the party’s future over loyalty to the Bidens.
Jill Biden calls out Nancy Pelosi for pushing her husband Joe out of the election.
“We were friends for 50 years…it was disappointing…. I learned a lot about human nature. I think that’s all I’m going to say.”
Source: NY Post pic.twitter.com/S5yY1x8vmY
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 16, 2025
Her comments, however, raised eyebrows among those who questioned her priorities. Critics argue that her focus on personal relationships rather than the greater good of the nation highlights a troubling dynamic in the Biden White House. With the nation facing pressing issues like inflation, international instability, and questions about leadership competency, Jill’s lament over Pelosi’s lack of loyalty seems, to many, out of touch with the bigger picture.
Then there was Chuck Todd:
“Somehow Jill Biden thought it was hers, theirs, that it belonged to them” — @chucktodd on the Bidens pic.twitter.com/LLLZULq4py
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 20, 2025
This is not the first time Jill Biden’s role as the first lady has come under scrutiny. Reports suggest she was instrumental in convincing her husband to run for reelection despite mounting concerns from Democratic insiders about his ability to serve another term. According to Politico, Jill provided what was described as “gentle encouragement” for Biden to pursue a second term, brushing off concerns about his stamina and cognition. Even as Joe Biden stumbled through a disastrous debate in June 2024—widely seen as a turning point in his failed bid for reelection—Jill reportedly reassured him that he had “done such a great job.”
This unwavering support, some argue, has painted Jill as the driving force behind a presidency increasingly defined by questions of competency. Her insistence that Joe Biden was fit to serve has been contradicted by reports from insiders. Journalist Carl Bernstein reported on CNN that Joe Biden had demonstrated cognitive decline on “15, 20 occasions” in the year and a half leading up to the 2024 campaign. Others within the White House pointed to a deliberate effort to shield the president from scrutiny, allegedly orchestrated by Jill herself.
A report from Axios described how White House aides worked to minimize exposure to Joe Biden’s cognitive lapses, with some residence staff members reportedly being kept at arm’s length by Jill and her team. According to one former White House official, Jill’s protective nature created a bubble around the president, further raising questions about transparency within the administration.
Never mind the fact that Biden mixes up topics on which “strike” the reporters are talking about……. Watch Jill just completely blow off Joe and walk away. She is done. No more acting like she gives AF. pic.twitter.com/6t2Izf0vzS
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) September 30, 2024
Even as calls within the Democratic Party grew louder for Biden to step aside, Jill reportedly stood firm. During a Biden family meeting at Camp David, held the same weekend as a Vogue cover shoot featuring Jill, both she and Hunter Biden reportedly pushed Joe to stay in the race. The timing of the Vogue cover fueled speculation that Jill’s motivation was tied more to preserving her role as first lady than addressing the nation’s concerns about her husband’s fitness for office.
Adding to the controversies surrounding Jill Biden’s tenure are accusations of opportunism and image management. Her acknowledgment of Hunter Biden’s out-of-wedlock child, which came years after the child’s birth and only after significant public pressure, was seen by some as emblematic of a calculated, reluctant response to bad optics.
The first lady’s critics have also drawn comparisons between Jill Biden and historical figures like Edith Wilson, who effectively ran the country after President Woodrow Wilson’s debilitating stroke. However, unlike Edith Wilson, Jill Biden has been accused of knowingly supporting her husband’s reelection bid despite clear signs of his declining capacity. This distinction, critics argue, makes her role even more troubling.
Jill Biden’s defenders have dismissed these critiques as politically motivated, with her communications director describing the attacks as part of a “right-wing machine” intent on inventing caricatures of the first lady. However, it is not just conservatives who have voiced frustrations. Prominent Democrats have also expressed discontent with Jill’s perceived role in enabling Joe Biden’s reelection campaign despite widespread doubts about his ability to serve effectively.
As her time in the White House is over, Jill Biden’s legacy as first lady remains deeply divisive. Her involvement in key decisions and her protective stance toward her husband have drawn both admiration and ire. What is clear, however, is that her time in the spotlight has been anything but smooth.
