Jill Biden Feared Husband Had Stroke During 2024 Presidential Debate

Former First Lady Jill Biden disclosed that she believed her husband, President Joe Biden, was experiencing a stroke during the 2024 presidential debate against then-candidate Donald Trump.

In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Jill Biden stated, "I was scared because I had never seen Joe like that before or since, ever. I don’t know what happened. While watching the debate, I thought: Oh my God, he’s having a stroke. It scared me to death."

Following the debate, Biden faced intense pressure from fellow Democrats to step down as the party’s presidential candidate due to his weak performance against Trump.

Ultimately, Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed his then-vice president, Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee.

Jill Biden was among Biden’s most influential advisors during his presidency and was one of those who encouraged him to exit the 2024 race.

After the June 2024 debate, held months before the presidential election, Democrats openly expressed concern about the president’s shaky performance, although Biden’s campaign insisted at the time that he would not drop out and planned to debate Trump again.

During the debate, both candidates competed for a second term, clashing on key issues such as immigration, the economy, and abortion rights. Biden exhibited a hoarse voice, which his team attributed to illness, and at one point appeared to lose his train of thought.

Although replacing the incumbent president as the nominee months before the election was unlikely, Biden’s poor debate showing, combined with missteps at the NATO summit in the following weeks and fragile behavior after a COVID diagnosis, ultimately led to the end of his candidacy.

Kamala Harris assumed the Democratic nomination about three months before the election but was defeated by Trump. After her loss, Harris criticized Biden’s decision to seek a second term, calling it "reckless."

Source: CBS News